Vucic: Friendship between Serbia and China made of steel

INSTAGRAM "BUDUCNOSTSRBIJEAV"/

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and the Chinese ambassador to Belgrade Chen Bo agreed on Wednesday that the two countries had a steel-made friendship, a phrase that became common after China's Hesteel Group Company Limited purchased Serbia's steel plant in the eastern town of Smederevo.

At the reception marking the Chinese Statehood Day, the two also said the relations between Belgrade and Bejinig „are further improving,“ and that the two countries „proved their friendship in practice“

The People’s Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949.

The statements came after speculations about the hick-ups in Serbia-China relations following the Belgrade – Pristina meetings at the White House and the document Vucic signed saying his country would not rely on „unreliable“ G5 providers. Many read it as an allusion to China and its giant Huawei which had already entered Serbia’s market.

Vucic later said the document had not mentioned either China or Huawei specifically.

On Wednesday, Bo said that „despite the effects of the coronavirus epidemic, the relations between China and Serbia have been improving.

„There are still some difficulties and pressures on our path, but we are convinced we will continue to cooperate, help each other and go forward.“

Vucic said he was proud of the friendship between the two countries and that they would manage to preserve the brotherly and friendly relationship. 

He added Serbia „will not allow its friendship with China to be put in question, regardless of pressures it will be exposed to.“

„The time behind us has not been easy, the one ahead of us is probably even more difficult, but we must prove our friendship,“ Vucic said.

In Washington, he added, „probably the most inconvenient place to say something positive about China, I said we have excellent relations with China. That speaks about the strength of our friendship.“

„We know you have much more significant countries to cooperate within Europe, but you don’t have a better friend than Serbia,“ Vucic added.

He said that ambassador Bo „is not always so sweet and that she can be sharp in approaching issues, but that she always shows her love for Serbia what Belgrade highly appreciates.“