Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a heartfelt reply to Serbian workers at the HBIS Smederevo Steel Plant, encouraging them to continue contributing to the China-Serbia friendship. In his letter dated April 29, President Xi expressed his joy at the plant’s remarkable turnaround and its positive impact on the local community.
Reflecting on his 2016 state visit to Serbia, President Xi recalled meeting the workers face-to-face at the steel plant. He was deeply moved by their support for the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Serbia and their hopes for the plant’s bright future.
President Xi noted that, thanks to the joint efforts of management teams and workers from both countries, the steel plant has undergone a significant transformation, bolstering the development of Smederevo City. “It is a great pleasure to learn that the steel plant has quickly turned losses into gains after the investment of a Chinese-funded enterprise,” he wrote, highlighting that over 5,000 jobs have been secured, bringing prosperity to thousands of families.
He praised the dedication and hard work of the Serbian steelworkers, acknowledging their role in writing a new chapter in the iron-clad friendship between China and Serbia. “I give you the thumbs up,” President Xi said, commending their contributions.
The president emphasized that the steel plant’s success is a shining example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Serbia. It stands as a paradigm of their mutually beneficial partnership, with the steelworkers being participants, witnesses, contributors, and beneficiaries of this friendship.
“I hope you will continue to do your jobs wholeheartedly and dedicate yourselves enthusiastically to the operation and development of the plant,” President Xi encouraged. “By doing so, you will make new and greater contributions to the socioeconomic development of Serbia and the consolidation of the China-Serbia friendship.”
The letter from President Xi was in response to a correspondence from thirty representatives of the Serbian workers at the HBIS Smederevo Steel Plant. They shared updates on the plant’s development and its significant contribution to improving the well-being of local people, expressing gratitude for President Xi’s support and attention to the project.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
