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Xi Jinping
China

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Serbia this year, says its leader Alexander Vucic

  • Balkan nation, a close ally of Beijing in recent years, is the first confirmed stop on the Chinese president’s first post-pandemic trip to Europe
  • Development follows landmark free-trade deal between two countries that strongly back each other’s positions on Taiwan and Kosovo

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Serbian President Alexander Vucic described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a ‘sincere friend’ of the Balkan country. Photo: Xinhua
Finbarr Berminghamin Brussels
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Serbia this year, with the trip confirmed in a speech and social media posts by his Serbian counterpart Alexander Vucic.
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In a speech made at a Lunar New Year reception he hosted in Belgrade, Vucic said, “Xi Jinping, our sincere friend … will visit our country this year”, according to local media reports on Monday.
The trip was confirmed during discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Serbian leader said.
On Friday, Vucic in an Instagram post on his official account said the “upcoming visit of a great friend of Serbia, President Xi” had been discussed at lunch with Beijing’s ambassador to the country, Li Ming.
China looking to ‘shape new pattern’ for world relations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi says
It means Serbia is the first confirmed stop on Xi’s first post-pandemic trip to Europe, after months of speculation. The Post first reported earlier this month that Belgrade could be on Xi’s agenda, while Paris is also rumoured to be part of his itinerary.
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