In summer, all things are beautiful. In this season of hope, at the invitation of President Aleksandar Vucic, I will soon pay a state visit to the Republic of Serbia. This is the second time that I have set foot on this beautiful and legendary land of Serbia since taking office as President of the People's Republic of China. The beautiful scene of his visit to Serbia eight years ago is still fresh in his mind, and the close cooperation between the two sides over the past eight years has yielded fruitful results. I look forward to renewing friendship and discussing cooperation with President Vucic and other Serbian leaders and friends and injecting new vitality into China-Serbia friendship.

China and Serbia are far apart, but the two peoples have always been linked by heart and hand. During the torrid days of the anti-Fascist War and national construction in the last century, the two peoples cultivated profound friendship that transcended time and space. In a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the two sides have strengthened support for each other, strengthened mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepened exchanges and mutual learning. No matter how the international situation changes, China and Senegal will always be true friends and good partners. Our hard-core friendship has been strengthened over time, setting a good example for exchanges between countries and people.

We uphold mutual respect and trust. President Vucic and I have established a good working relationship through meetings, phone calls and letters. The two countries have maintained close exchanges at various levels and in various fields. The two sides fully understand and respect the development path chosen by their respective peoples, adhere to the principle of fairness and justice, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and maintain close and smooth coordination and cooperation in bilateral and multilateral fields. The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has been deepening and making solid progress.

We are committed to mutual benefit. Serbia is China's first free trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Last year, China was Serbia's largest source of investment and its second largest trading partner. Bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, industrial chain and infrastructure development is booming, contributing to the modernization process of both countries. The Mederevo steel plant I visited in 2016 is already one of the top three export enterprises in Serbia. Serbian agricultural products such as honey, red wine, beef and mutton are popular among Chinese consumers.

We insist on helping each other. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, President Vucic and I have had two phone conversations and reached important consensus on cooperation in fighting the epidemic. China has provided assistance to Serbia, given priority to several batches of medical protection materials, and sent a team of experts to Serbia. Serbia fully supports China's "Spring Seedling Campaign" to help overseas Chinese during the epidemic, and Serbian non-governmental organizations voluntarily donated masks and other materials to the Chinese people. This kind of brotherly friendship is precious.

We are committed to mutual learning. Both China and Senegal are committed to the pursuit of people's happiness and national prosperity. The two countries have actively exchanged experience on governance and strengthened political party exchanges. The people of our two countries have deep affection for each other, and people-to-people exchanges in culture, sports and tourism are flourishing. Serbian basketball star Jokic is cheering for the China and US country Basketball Competition. The two countries exempt visas for holders of ordinary passports from each other, facilitating personnel exchanges and cooperation.

As the Chinese say, "Friends make friends with righteousness." As the Serbs say, "Friends are the best wealth in life." The long-term friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Senegal fully show that the deepening of bilateral relations conforms to the trend of history, serves the fundamental interests of the people and is conducive to the common progress of both sides. With a new journey in the new era, China-Senegal comprehensive strategic partnership has broad space for further development. During this visit, I would like to work with Serbia to carry forward our hard-core friendship, take concrete actions to better benefit our two peoples, promote world peace and development, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

We should always be good friends who treat each other sincerely. China and Senegal will deepen and expand their comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides will continue to move forward along the path of mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual assistance, and continue to give each other firm support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. China respects and supports the development path chosen by the Serbian people, supports Serbia's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposes any interference in Serbia's internal affairs.

We should always be good partners for win-win cooperation. China is comprehensively advancing Chinese-style modernization with high-quality development and accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. In recent years, Serbia has made remarkable achievements in economic and social development. China and Senegal should tap the potential of mutually beneficial cooperation, well implement the medium-term Action Plan for jointly building the Belt and Road, strive to create more landmark projects, expand cooperation in emerging areas such as scientific and technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, green energy, digital economy and artificial intelligence, and share development opportunities for a better future.

We must always set a good example in promoting equity and justice. As hardcore friends and defenders of world peace, China and Serbia share similar positions on many major international and regional issues. In the face of the changing and interwoven international situation, we need to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations and other international organizations, jointly advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarity and economic globalization that benefits all, practice genuine multilateralism, and commit ourselves to safeguarding world peace and stability and international fairness and justice.

We should always be good friends of people-to-people bonds. Tempered by blood and fire, China-Senegal friendship has gained new luster in the new era. We need to create a multi-dimensional and diversified pattern of people-to-people exchanges and subnational cooperation, make good use of the "visa-free + direct flights" policy, make full use of the mutual establishment of cultural centers, and step up cooperation in education, sports, culture and tourism to create more opportunities for our young people and pass on our friendship.

At this moment, we must not forget that 25 years ago today, NATO flagrantly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists, Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu and Zhu Ying. The Chinese people cherish peace, but they will never let the tragedy of history repeat itself. The friendship forged in blood between the two peoples has become the common memory of the two peoples and will inspire both sides to move forward together.

Looking back on the journey of thousands of mountains, looking forward to the road. Standing at a new historical starting point, China stands ready to work with our Serbian friends to stay true to our original aspiration, make progress together, chart a new chapter of national development and revitalization, and build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era. With spring and autumn fruits, let us witness and look forward to the tree of China-Serbia friendship growing vigorously and bearing more fruits to the benefit of our two peoples.

Source: Chinese government website