Xi congratulates Vucic on Serbia's Statehood Day

BELGRADE - Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian people on Statehood Day (February 15), noting that Serbia and China stood shoulder to shoulder in defence of vital mutual interests and when it comes to the main challenges in order to preserve international justice and righteousness.

"Allow me to extend, on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the people of China, heartfelt congratulations and good wishes to you and the friendly Serbian people. Under your leadership, the Serbian economy and society are developing quickly, cities and villages are being transformed every day, thereby writing a new chapter in state-building," Xi wrote in a congratulatory message to Vucic.

He noted that China highly appreciated the fact that, faced by a volatile and turbulent international situation, Serbia was advocating independence, following a trend of peaceful development and joint victories through cooperation, the press office of the president of Serbia said in a statement.

Xi thanked Vucic and Serbians for a friendly and heartfelt welcome during his successful state visit to Serbia last year.

"Under our joint leadership, the relations between China and Serbia have taken a step forward, beginning a new journey of building a community of China and Serbia with a shared future in a new era. The mutual political trust between the two countries has been strengthened further, the traditional friendship is growing stronger over time and practical cooperation is producing fruitful results," the Chinese president added.

"I attach great importance to development of Chinese-Serbian relations and I am prepared to invest efforts with you to maintain strategic communication together at high level, promote the iron-clad friendship between China and Serbia, continuously deepen and strengthen the building of a community of China and Serbia with a shared future in a new era to contribute even further to the well-being of the peoples of our two countries. I wish prosperity and peace to your country and happiness and well-being to your people," Xi wrote.