BELGRADE, May 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken of his special bond with the Serbian people, noting that he was interested in Yugoslav movies and songs in his youth.
“The Yugoslav film The Bridge and the song Bella Ciao, which evoked strong patriotic and anti-fascist sentiments, were very popular in China for many years and kept me company during my youth,” Xi said at a welcome dinner hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Xi said the Chinese people have always attached importance to the special bond of friendship with Serbia, and noted that Serbian athletes Novak Djokovic and Nikola Jokic, as well as film director Emir Kusturica, are well-known figures in China.
Xi noted that Serbia, located “west of the East and east of the West,” has long been known as the “gateway to the Balkans,” recalling that these lands have been the meeting point of different civilizations on the Eurasian continent for centuries.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Serbian President Vucic on Wednesday afternoon, President Xi spoke of the warm welcome he had received in the country. Xi said he was touched by Vucic and his wife’s arrival at the airport on Tuesday, along with a delegation of senior Serbian officials.
Vucic accompanied Xi to the steps of the Serbian Palace before the meeting. An estimated 15,000 Serbian citizens waved Chinese and Serbian flags in the square in front of the palace and warmly welcomed Xi. Xi later met with Vucic and reiterated that he was very impressed by the warm welcome at the airport.
In an article published before his arrival in Serbia, Xi said, “Despite the long distance between us, there has always been a closeness between the Chinese and Serbian people.”
“During the anti-fascist war and the building of our nations in the last century, the Chinese and Serbian peoples have established a strong friendship that spans time and space,” the article said.
