Opinion | Xi's visit to Serbia – 'demonstration of growing global reach'

By Augustus K. Yeung

There is no better story to describe the Chinese and the Americans other than the Aesop's Fables.  In "The Ants and the Grasshoppers", the ants are busy working, while the grasshoppers enjoy wining, dining and horribly shootings from the hip.

The Chinese as a culture value work ethics – whereas the U.S., especially its military enjoys waging hot wars, notably dropping bombs that, for example, hit Belgrade, in Yugoslavia – where the Chinese embassy was also hit, killing three innocent Chinese citizens.

The moral of the story is that these belligerent and atrocious Americans did the bombing, and now the Chinese are happily enjoying their meeting of minds in the Balkan state of Serbia, celebrating "ironclad" bilateral ties – based on the building of infrastructure such as the modern railway system that links the capitals of Serbia and Hungary.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met yesterday with the Serbian president, with both sides expressing optimism that the visit will further boost the "ironclad" friendly relations between China and Serbia.

Xi arrived in Serbia to a warm welcome on Tuesday evening from France, where he had a high-stakes state visit, enjoying the unique hospitality that President Macron has had to offer.

Thousands of people chanting "China-Serbia!" and waving flags were bused in – from across Serbia to attend a welcoming ceremony for Xi yesterday in front of the Serbia Palace, in the new part of Belgrade where the talks are being held.

Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic addressed the crowd from a balcony – calling Xi an "ironclad" friend. He said his visit to Serbia is "historic" – because it opens the path for even closer ties.

"We are writing history today, although it doesn't seem so to many [people]" Vucic said. "We thank President Xi. He hasn't come to Europe in five years – and he has again chosen our little Serbia."

At the start of the official meeting, Xi said, "We are first-hand witnesses that the Serbian people view Chinese people as ironclad best friends." Xi felt the Serbian party warm, overwhelming.

"This is truly two-sided and truthful friendship…I truly hail this, and it really made an extremely deep impression on me," Xi said sentimentally.

Note: Xi will proceed to Hungary today. Like Serbia, Hungary is seen as one of China's more friendly partners in Europe.

Signs of pro-China sentiments were clearly visible throughout the Serbian capital. A huge Chinese flag was placed on a skyscraper along a roadway leading into the city from the airport. Smaller Chinse and Serbian flags could be seen downtown and along a highway.

China has poured billions of dollars into Serbia in investment and loans, particularly in mining and infrastructure. The two countries signed an agreement on a strategic partnership in 2015 and a free trade agreement last year.

Serbia – a landlock nation in the heart of the Balkan – has been a key country in China's Belt and Road Initiative designed to increase Beijing's influence in Europe, through economic investment.

Critics jokingly say it could serve as a "Trojan horse – and gateway to Europe."

Xi also arrived in Serbia on a symbolic date – the 25thanniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by U.S. jets during NATO's air strikes over Kosovo – when three Chinese citizens were killed.

The incident has helped forge close political ties between China and Serbia.

Chinese companies run Serbia's biggest copper mine and a steel mill and are also building scores of roads and highways across the country, along with a railway toward northern neighbor Hungary.

"Our bilateral relationship has stood the test of changing international environment and become a fine example of state-to-state relations," Xi said in a statement published by China's Foreign Ministry.

"Standing at a new historical starting point, China will work with Serbia to jointly stay committed – to the original aspiration, and forge ahead together – to open up a new vista in China-Serbia cooperation," added Xi. "I am confident – that this visit will be a fruitful one – and will open up a new chapter in China-Serbia relations."

In 2014, Hungary and Serbia concluded an agreement with Beijing to modernize the railway between their capitals of Budapest and Belgrade, part of a Belt and Road plan to link up with the Chinese-controlled port of Piraeus in Greece to the south, an entry point for Chinese goods to Central and Eastern Europe.

The more than $2 billion project is expected to be completed in 2026, after numerous delays.

In 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Serbia took semi-secret delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system flown in on Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes.

The arms delivery over the territory of at least two NATO member states, Turkey and Bulgaria, was seen by experts as a demonstration of China's growing global reach. (Source: MDT/AP)

Xi's state visit to Serbia illustrates the fact that they were not born brother – but they built their beautiful friendship through thick and thin. And they value each other like blood-brothers.

For one thing, China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative is now bearing fruits in Serbia and Hungary, where constructions, big and small, as well as ports and railways are being built. Chinese investments, too, increasingly keep coming – much to the excitement of partnering countries.

Xi's visits bear testimony to the fact that China is making inroads in Europe.

Now, the Chinese have found a strong foothold in Serbia, then Hungary and later more of the same will come along as China's influence spreads across Europe.

As the European folk wisdom says, "Rome wasn't built in one day." After all, it was in Europe that the Renaissance took place.

In the same vein, China is promulgating to the world that it too is revitalizing oriental civilization.

Wait till you see the emergence of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Wait till you see the integration of the GBA with ASEAN…

A China-led "Asian-century" is slowly, surely emerging.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com

Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:

Opinion | President Xi is making inroads in Europe

Opinion | China, ASEAN seen propelling global growth – When China does well

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