From ancient Silk Road ties to modern mega-projects, China and Serbia’s partnership has evolved into what Ambassador Li Ming calls an \"ironclad friendship\" built on three unshakable pillars: mutual political trust, economic synergy, and cultural connection. In an exclusive interview with NewspaperAmigo.com, Ambassador Li broke down why this Balkan nation and the Asian giant are #RelationshipGoals for international cooperation.
Pillar 1: Trust Over Geopolitics
\"Serbia chooses partners based on shared respect, not pressure,\" Li emphasized, addressing Western skepticism about China’s influence. The two countries have aligned on over 200 cooperative projects since 2016, including a new free trade agreement signed last October that slashes tariffs on 90% of goods. 🚢💸
Pillar 2: Economy as Growth Engine
From Huawei’s 5G networks to Zijin Mining’s copper investments, Chinese companies have poured $4.1 billion into Serbia since 2020. The ambassador highlighted how Serbia’s automotive and tech sectors are booming with Asian partnerships – creating 50,000+ local jobs. 🔧📈
Pillar 3: Cultural Bridges
With direct flights from Belgrade to Beijing and 100+ Serbian students now learning Mandarin annually, Ambassador Li sees people-to-people ties as the partnership’s secret sauce: \"When young Serbians study Kung Fu or Chinese millennials groove to Balkan pop music, that’s real diplomacy.\" 🎶🥋
As the Belt and Road Initiative marks its 11th year, this alliance shows how East-West collaborations can thrive – no iron required.
