People's Republic of China–Serbia relations

Chinese-Serbian relations

China	Serbia

Chinese-Serbian relations are foreign relations between the People's Republic of China and Serbia. Relations have been maintained since SFR Yugoslavia's recognition of PR China on October 1, 1949, while diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established by the exchange of diplomatic notes between the two Foreign Ministers on January 2, 1955. China has an embassy in Belgrade and also maintains an office in Priština based on consent of the Government of Serbia from November 2006. Serbia has an embassy in Beijing and a general consulate in Shanghai. Ambassador of Serbia to China is Miomir Udovički and Consul Gerant in Shanghai is Nenad Đorđević and Ambassador of China to Serbia is Wei Jinghua. Despite the close official relationship between PR China and Serbia, there is no mutual visa-free travel agreement between the two countries (for ordinary passport holders), a fact indicating that the diplomatic relationship has yet to benefit the common citizens of the two countries.

History

1990 to present

The PRC supported the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War and opposed the NATO airstrikes against targets in Serbia and Montenegro.^[1] The PRC believed that Milosevic was acting to prevent the secession of Kosovo by Albanian separatists from the FRY, and thus supported his actions as preserving the FRY's territorial integrity.^[2] The PRC opposed NATO intervention in Kosovo on the basis that it set a dangerous precedent that PRC officials believed could in the future afflict the PRC, should uprisings occur in Tibet or Xinjiang and then result in bombings.^[3] PRC opposition to the NATO actions intensified after the accidental bombing of the PR Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the war.^[4]

Kosovo

PR China backs Serbia's position regarding Kosovo. The PR Chinese Foreign Minister has made a statement stressing that the PRC "expresses grave concern" over Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. The Minister's remarks go on to add that "The resolution of the Kosovo issue bares [sic] on peace and stability of the Balkan region, the fundamental norms governing international relations as well as the authority and role of the UN Security Council. China always believes that a plan acceptable to both Serbia and Kosovo through negotiations is the best way to resolve this issue. The unilateral move taken by Kosovo will lead to a series of consequences. China is deeply worried about its severe and negative impact on peace and stability of the Balkan region and the goal of establishing a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. China calls upon Serbia and Kosovo to continue negotiations for a proper resolution within the framework of the international law and work together to safeguard peace and stability of the Balkan region. The international community should create favorable conditions for that."^[5][6] Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić told reporters after a meeting in Beijing with Politburo member Liu Yandong that China reiterated its support to help Serbia preserve her territorial integrity. "Just as Serbia supports the one China policy, China supports Serbia as its best and most stable friend in southeastern Europe."^[7] Ambassador of China to Serbia, Wei Jinghua, stated in June 2009 that "China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and understands the great concern of Serbia on the issue of Kosovo. We support the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina that would bring a mutually acceptable solution, in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and UN resolutions."^[8]

Economic relations

The People's Republic of China is the most important trading partner of the Republic of Serbia in the region of Asia. The volume of trade between the two countries in 2006 was US$788.1 million with Serbian exports taking US$ 6.25 million. While in period of January-October 2007, the trade totaled EUR 793.8 million. Serbia's exports to China were worth EUR 3.2 million.^{[citation needed]}

Serbia exports to China are natural rubber, rubber products, machinery and equipment (special machine tools and road vehicles), cork, timber, etc. and Chinese exports to Serbia are machinery and equipment (office equipment, telecommunication equipment, electric machines), various manufactured goods, clothing, footwear, textiles, chemicals and staple items.

In 2006, Serbia officially confirmed its participation at Expo 2010 which will take place in Shanghai.

Culture and education

Educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries is being maintained under the interstate Agreement on cultural cooperation that was concluded in Beijing on 7 June 1957.

The Confucius Institute in Belgrade has opened on August, 2006 by Tang Jiaxuan.

Recent bilateral meetings

Dates	Visit
November 2000	Visit by Foreign Minister Živadin Jovanović, to Beijing
December 2000	Visit by Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, to Belgrade
August 2001	Visit by Deputy Federal Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, to Beijing
January 2002	Visit by Federal President Vojislav Koštunica, to Beijing
April 2003	Visit by Foreign Minister Goran Svilanović, to Beijing
April 2003	Visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Guchang, to Belgrade
November 2003	Visit by Prime Minister Zoran Živković, to Beijing
September 2004	Visit by Defence Minister Prvoslav Davinić, to Beijing
October 2004	Visit by CPPCC Vice Chair Madame Liu Yandong, to Belgrade
February 2005	Visit by President Boris Tadić, to Beijing
May 2005	Visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, to Belgrade
May 2005	Visit by First Secretary of the CP City Committee Liu Qi, to Belgrade
May 2005	Visit by Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, to Belgrade
October 2005	Visit by Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković, to Beijing
December 2005	Visit by Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajić, to Beijing
May 2006	Visit by Mayor of Belgrade Nenad Bogdanović, to Beijing
May 2006	Visit by Serbian Intelligence Agency Director Rade Bulatović, to Beijing
August 2006	Visit by State Counsellor Tang Jiaxuan, to Belgrade
April 2007	Visit by Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, to Belgrade
April 2007	Visit by Chief of SAF GS Zdravko Ponoš, to Beijing
September 2007	Visit by Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, to Beijing
August 2008	Visit by President Boris Tadić, to Beijing
September 2008	Visit by Chief of PLA Chen Bingde, to Belgrade
November 2008	Visit by Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac, to Beijing
April 2009	Visit by Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić, to Beijing
August 2009	Delegation led by Boris Tadić, 5 day visit to China.
June 2010	Visit by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, to Beijing
July 2010	Visit by Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, to Belgrade

Strategic partnership

Serbia and China signed an important strategic partnership agreement in August 2009.^[9] The agreement has ten points and covers wide array of subjects including the mutual respect of territorial integrity, plans for trade development as well as cultural, technological and scientific exchange.^[10]

References

1. ^ Warren I. Cohen. America's response to China: a history of Sino-American relations. 5th edition. New York, New York, USA; West Sussex, England, UK: Columbia University Press, 2010. Pp. 261.
2. ^ Suisheng Zhao. Chinese foreign policy: pragmatism and strategic behavior. New York, New York, USA: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 2004. Pp. 60.
3. ^ Suisheng Zhao. Chinese foreign policy: pragmatism and strategic behavior. New York, New York, USA: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 2004. Pp. 60.
4. ^ Warren I. Cohen. America's response to China: a history of Sino-American relations. 5th edition. New York, New York, USA; West Sussex, England, UK: Columbia University Press, 2010. Pp. 261.
5. ^ "China 'deeply concerned' over Kosovo independence: govt". AFP. 2008-02-18. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i3P7GRr55t2l7VZqxiWweagLgJqw. Retrieved 2008-07-18. 
6. ^ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao's Remarks on Kosovo's Unilateral Declaration of Independence". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. 2008-02-18. http://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xwfw/s2510/t408032.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-18. 
7. ^ ""China reiterates support for Serbia"". B92. 2009-04-07. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=04&dd=07&nav_id=58365. Retrieved 2009-04-07. 
8. ^ "Na Kosovu se brane principi" (in Serbian). Novosti. 2009-06-16. http://www.novosti.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=1&status=jedna&vest=148455&title_add=Na%20Kosovu%20se%20brane%20principi&kword_add=ambasador%2C%20vei%20djinghua. Retrieved 2009-06-20. 
9. ^ China, Serbia sign strategic cooperation deal
10. ^ Zajednička izjava Srbije i Kine

See also

• Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China
• Foreign relations of Serbia
• Chinese people in Serbia

External links

• Chinese Foreign Ministry about relations with Serbia
• Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with China
• Serbian embassy in Beijing
• Serbian general consulate in Shanghai