National Day reception was held in Beijing on Friday, March 22nd. The event was realized after a month of delay out of respect for the China’s Spring festival.

Ambassador Bačević stressed the long tradition of friendship between the two countries and expressed that he is very proud of the fact that the relations between the two countries elevated to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, that was established during the visit of President Xi Jinping to Serbia in 2016.

He announced that in April President Aleksandar Vučić will take part in the Second Belt and Road Forum and Prime Minister Ana Brnabić will participate at the "16 + 1" Summit in Dubrovnik.

Speaking of the achievements of bilateral cooperation, Ambassador Bačević expressed satisfaction with the progress of infrastructure projects, of which the most important is the modernization of the Belgrade-Budapest railway that serves as a part of a wider structural connectivity network between southern and central Europe and China. Direct Chinese investment in Železara Smederevo plays a special role for the development of the Serbian economy. Better mutual understanding between peoples and culture exchanges are the basis of deepening of relations between two countries where the Cultural Center of Serbia "Ivo Andric" in Beijing has a great importance.

The Ambassador reminded on the 20 years anniversary of the NATO bombing of Serbia during which China and its people then, as now, were with the Serbian people, defended their position based on international law and jointly suffered a tragedy. He also thanked for Chinese support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.

Special guest was Deputy Director of the European Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Lu Shan. Around two hundred fifty attendees, including representatives of the diplomatic corps, party and state officials, representatives of provincial governments, business people, artists, professors, students and part of the Serbian diaspora attended the event.