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China–Serbia relations

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China-Serbia relations
Map indicating locations of China and Serbia

China
Serbia
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of China, BelgradeEmbassy of Serbia, Beijing
Envoy
Li MingMaja Stefanović

China and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between People's Republic of China and SFR Yugoslavia in 1955. In recent decades, the two countries have held a very close relationship raising it to the level of strategic partnership since 2009.[1][2][3]

History

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China supported the Serbia (then part of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) during the Kosovo War and opposed the NATO airstrikes against targets in Serbia and Montenegro.[4] China believed that Milošević was acting to prevent the secession of Kosovo by Albanian separatists from Serbia, and thus supported his actions as preserving the FRY's territorial integrity.[5] China opposed NATO intervention in Kosovo on the basis that it set a dangerous precedent that Chinese officials believed could in the future afflict China should riots occur in Tibet or Xinjiang and then result in bombings.[5] PRC opposition to the NATO actions intensified after the United States bombed the PRC's embassy in Belgrade during the war.[4]

Under president Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia has sought closer cooperation with China.[6] After meeting with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, he secured Chinese help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia through the delivery of PPE and CoronaVac vaccine doses,[7] which contributed to Serbia leading COVID-19 vaccination rates in Europe.[8][9]

In 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Serbia, signed a joint letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council defending China's persecution of Uyghurs.[10][11] Serbia was one of 16 countries that defended China in 2019 but did not do so in 2020.[12]

In 2024, on occasion of the 25th anniversary of the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote an article in the Serbian newspaper Politika in which he stated, "The friendship between China and Serbia which is soaked in blood that the two peoples spilled together has become a joint memory of the two peoples and will encourage both parties to make together huge steps forward."[13]

China's stance on Kosovo

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See also: China–Kosovo relations

China backs Serbia's position regarding Kosovo. The PR Chinese Foreign Ministry has made a statement stressing that the PRC "expresses grave concern" over Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. The spokesman Liu Jianchao's remarks go on to add that "The resolution of the Kosovo issue bares [sic] on peace and stability of the Balkan region, the fundamental norms governing international relations as well as the authority and role of the UN Security Council. China always believes that a plan acceptable to both Serbia and Kosovo through negotiations is the best way to resolve this issue. The unilateral move taken by Kosovo will lead to a series of consequences. China is deeply worried about its severe and negative impact on peace and stability of the Balkan region and the goal of establishing a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. China calls upon Serbia and Kosovo to continue negotiations for a proper resolution within the framework of the international law and work together to safeguard peace and stability of the Balkan region. The international community should create favorable conditions for that."[14][15]

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić told reporters after an April 2009 meeting in Beijing with Politburo member Liu Yandong that China reiterated its support to help Serbia preserve her territorial integrity. "Just as Serbia supports the one China policy, China supports Serbia as its best and most stable friend in southeastern Europe."[16] Ambassador of China to Serbia, Wei Jinghua, stated in 2009 that "China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and understands the great concern of Serbia on the issue of Kosovo. We support the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina that would bring a mutually acceptable solution, in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and UN resolutions."[17]

Economic relations

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The China is Serbia's second biggest trading partner. Trade between the two countries amounted to $6.1 billion in 2022 with Chinese merchandise exports to Serbia standing at almost $5 billion while Serbian exports stood at $1.1 billion. Since 2024, China and Serbia have a free trade agreement.[13]

Chinese companies invested $5.6 billion in Serbia in the last decade.[18][19] Chinese corporations making investments in Serbia include Zijin Mining (owner of Serbia Zijin Bor Copper cooper mining complex in Bor), Hesteel (owner of Hesteel Serbia steel plant in Smederevo), Hisense (electrical appliances factory in Valjevo), Linglong Tire (tire factory in Zrenjanin), and Minth (automotive parts factories in Šabac and Loznica).

Since early 2010s China has invested US$10 billion in Serbian infrastructure and energy mainly through China's Belt and Road Initiative, of which Serbia was one of major beneficiaries with projects including Serbian section of the Budapest–Belgrade railway (built by CCCC), 350 MW B3 unit of Kostolac thermal power-plant (built by CMEC), Belgrade–Ljig and Čačak-Požega segments of A2 motorway (built by Shandong Gaosu Group), Pupin Bridge in Belgrade (built by CRBC).[13][20] As of 2024, Chinese companies are building several large infrastructure projects including Line 1 of Belgrade Metro (built by Power China), the National Stadium and exhibition halls for Expo 2027 in Belgrade (built by Power China), A6 motorway connecting Belgrade and Novi Sad through the town of Zrenjanin (built by Shandong Gaosu Group).

The Serbian flag carrier Air Serbia operates flights between Belgrade and Shanghai and Belgrade and Guangzhou.[21][22] The Chinese carriers China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines operate flights between Belgrade and Guangzhou and Belgrade and Beijing respectively.[23][24]

Military cooperation

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In recent years, Serbia has purchased from China air defense missile systems of medium and short range (HQ-22 and HQ-17) as well as combat drones (CH-95 and CH-92).[25]

Travel regime

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In 2017, Serbia and China mutually abolished the requirement of obtaining an entry visa for its citizens.[26]

List of recent bilateral meetings

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Dates Visit
November 2000 Visit by Foreign Minister Živadin Jovanović, to Beijing
December 2000 Visit by Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, to Belgrade
August 2001 Visit by Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, to Beijing
January 2002 Visit by President Vojislav Koštunica, to Beijing
April 2003 Visit by Foreign Minister Goran Svilanović, to Beijing
April 2003 Visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Guchang, to Belgrade
November 2003 Visit by Prime Minister Zoran Živković, to Beijing
September 2004 Visit by Defence Minister Prvoslav Davinić, to Beijing
October 2004 Visit by CPPCC Vice Chair Liu Yandong, to Belgrade
February 2005 Visit by President Boris Tadić, to Beijing
May 2005 Visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, to Belgrade
May 2005 Visit by First Secretary of the CP City Committee Liu Qi, to Belgrade
May 2005 Visit by Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, to Belgrade
October 2005 Visit by Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković, to Beijing
December 2005 Visit by Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajić, to Beijing
May 2006 Visit by Mayor of Belgrade Nenad Bogdanović, to Beijing
May 2006 Visit by Director of the Security Intelligence Agency Director Rade Bulatović, to Beijing
August 2006 Visit by State Counsellor Tang Jiaxuan, to Belgrade
April 2007 Visit by Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, to Belgrade
April 2007 Visit by Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Gen. Zdravko Ponoš, to Beijing
September 2007 Visit by Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, to Beijing
August 2008 Visit by President Boris Tadić, to Beijing
September 2008 Visit by Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the People Liberation Army Gen. Chen Bingde, to Belgrade
November 2008 Visit by Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac, to Beijing
April 2009 Visit by Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić, to Beijing
August 2009 Visit by President Boris Tadić, to Beijing
June 2010 Visit by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, to Beijing
July 2010 Visit by Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, to Belgrade
December 2010 Visit by Minister of Diaspora Srđan Srećković, to Beijing
May 2011 Visit by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, to Belgrade
August 2011 Visit by President of the National Assembly Slavica Đukić Dejanović, to Beijing
August 2013 Visit by President Tomislav Nikolić to Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai
December 2014 Visit by Prime Minister Li Keqiang, to Belgrade
September 2015 Visit by President Tomislav Nikolić, to Beijing
November 2015 Visit by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, to Suzhou
June 2016 Visit by President Xi Jinping, to Belgrade and Smederevo[13]
September 2018 Visit by President Aleksandar Vučić, to Tianjin
October 2023 Visit by President Aleksandar Vučić, to Beijing[13]
May 2024 Visit by President Xi Jinping, to Belgrade[13]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  • China has an embassy in Belgrade and maintains an office in Priština (based on consent of the Government of Serbia).
  • Serbia has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Shanghai.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Serbia to Xi Jinping: No one reveres you like we do". POLITICO. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  2. ^ "Visiting Serbia, China's Xi boosts 'ironclad' relationship – DW – 05/08/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  3. ^ "China, Serbia sign strategic cooperation deal". Tanjug. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22 – via B92.
  4. ^ a b Warren I. Cohen. America's response to China: a history of Sino-American relations. 5th edition. New York, New York, USA; West Sussex, England, UK: Columbia University Press, 2010. p. 261.
  5. ^ a b Suisheng Zhao. Chinese foreign policy: pragmatism and strategic behavior. New York, New York, USA: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 2004. p. 60.
  6. ^ "Serbia as China's favorite partner". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  7. ^ "China Is Helping a European Ally Get Ahead on Vaccines". Bloomberg.com. 2021-02-01. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  8. ^ "Vaccine tourists welcome as Serbians say 'no thanks' to jabs". France 24. 2021-04-04. Archived from the original on 2021-04-04. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  9. ^ "Serbia is outpacing nearly every country in the EU at vaccination". The Economist. 2021-04-03. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  10. ^ "Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies?". The Diplomat. 15 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Saudi Arabia and Russia among 37 states backing China's Xinjiang policy". Reuters. 12 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  12. ^ Basu, Zachary (8 October 2020). "Mapped: More countries sign UN statement condemning China's mass detentions in Xinjiang". Axios. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Vasovic, Aleksander; Sito-sucic, Daria (5 May 2024). "China's Xi Jinping to Visit Serbia on Anniversary of 1999 NATO Bombing". Reuters. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  14. ^ "China 'deeply concerned' over Kosovo independence: govt". Agence France-Presse. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  15. ^ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao's Remarks on Kosovo's Unilateral Declaration of Independence". mfa.gov.cn. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  16. ^ "China reiterates support for Serbia". Tanjug. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2019-04-06 – via B92.
  17. ^ Radeka, Dušica (16 June 2009). "Na Kosovu se brane principi". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). Retrieved 2019-04-06.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ https://forbes.n1info.rs/biznis/kako-su-poslovale-kineske-kompanije-u-srbiji-prosle-godine-si-je-imao-razlog-da-dodje-i-pogura-saradnju/
  19. ^ https://userbiadaily.rs/articles/americke-kompanije-do-sada-investirale-oko-pet-milijardi-dolara-u-srbiji
  20. ^ "Premier Li to open Chinese-built bridge in Belgrade". China Network Television. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2019-04-06 – via news.xinhuanet.com.
  21. ^ https://n1info.rs/biznis/er-srbija-od-januara-leti-za-sangaj/
  22. ^ https://n1info.rs/english/news/air-serbia-to-launch-direct-flights-to-guangzhou-on-30-september/
  23. ^ https://n1info.rs/biznis/er-srbija-od-januara-leti-za-sangaj/
  24. ^ https://n1info.rs/english/news/air-serbia-to-launch-direct-flights-to-guangzhou-on-30-september/
  25. ^ "Serbia Continues to Purchase Chinese Equipment with Acquisition of HQ-17AE Air Defense Missile Systems". Defense News security global military army equipment industry. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  26. ^ Hopkins, Valerie (17 June 2020). "Pandemic and EU neglect tighten Serbia bonds with China". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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