President Vucic speaks from China: We have been offered incredible conditions regarding nuclear energy

Photo: Tanjug/Amir Hamzagic

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after a series of meetings he has had in China that he had very important discussions with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and with Wang Huning, whom he described as one of the most important Chinese officials.

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"He is one of the most important people who has always participated in formulating China's foreign policy. I have been meeting with him since 2019, and even today I took notes of what we talked about. Wang is referred to as the Chinese Kissinger, I've learned a lot from him," said Vucic.

The Serbian president adedd that the meeting with Prime Minister Li was of great importance and that they covered five areas, the first of which is the implementation of the Agreement on Free Trade between Serbia and China.

He noted that in 2025, exports to China increased by 20 percent, and by almost 85 percent in the first four months of this year, compared to 2025.

"There's a lot of space to achieve even more. Greater commitment is needed to be able to sell our products on the challenging Chinese market," said Vucic.

He added that talks were held with three retail chains and that goods produced in Serbia will be sold there, as well as that there were talks about placing our products in two Chinese airlines.

"It's serious business. We talked, within this point, and I asked them to help us solve the issues in Vranje and the south of Serbia in particular, to find strategic partners for Yumco and Simpo, and I believe that in the long term we will solve the issue of employment in the Pcinj District, where we have had and continue to have countless problems. When we think we've taken a step forward, some problem always pops up, but I think we're on the right track. I can't say the name of the company, but I think we have an agreement," said the president.

Vucic also noted that they spoke about numerous projects in the field of transport, energy and infrastructure, commenting that "we work a lot with their (Chinese) companies".

"Their companies are also building EXPO, I don't mean only the buildings, but also roads and railways, the Vozd Karadjordje, the Danube Corridor... We spoke under the third point about cooperation in innovation and also about nuclear energy and they offered us incredible conditions," he said.

Vucic mentioned that Chinese tourists want to get to know Serbia, and that every year more and more visitors arrive in our country. The fifth point of discussions was cooperation within the framework of major multilateral institutions, in the UN, mutual support regarding Taiwan and Kosovo and Metohija, and other issues.

"What is very important is the automotive industry. We have limitations there, between 55 and 70 percent of parts must be produced in the territory of the home country, and we must see to it that there are no hurdles when it comes to exports to the EU," said Vucic.

The president of Serbia also that there are big and serious projects ahead for our country, and that there will be talks about military-technical cooperation between Serbia and China.

He said that Wang Huning told him that "things are changing in the world and President Xi has said that things are changing more today than over the entire previous century, and that the world is at a crossroads."

Vucic then referred to the fact that until 2010, everyone was talking about free market, but when China accepted it, "they switched to interventionism and barriers".

"Everything has turned around, but it has a political consequence. Amid their nervousness, some countries are becoming more and more arrogant, they used to care about international order, now they no longer refer to it at all. And the job of China and us small countries is to refer to international law. Today, they no longer mention it, but preach about their values ​​through their NGOs. And there is nothing principled in their values, those change according to the needs (of those countries)," he said.

The president noted that it is "difficult to find our place in this world, but we must keep the peace", however, he emphasized that he is extremely satisfied with the meetings in China.

"Now the most important meetings are coming up. I hope to be concentrated, a total of 4 hours and 15 minutes with President Xi. I believe it will turn out well for our country. I will have a clearer picture at the end, but we received a lot of support in the first two meetings, and I believe that will continue," he said.

Vucic added that China will participate in EXPO 2027 in Belgrade "in the full format", but also noted that Serbia will not miss opportunities in China.

"I promised that we will work hard, that we will be present everywhere. To offer our goods to Chinese customers, they appreciate and like us here. There are few countries that lead a sovereign policy and that is why people respect us so much," he added.

Vucic expanded on the upcoming talks with Xi Jinping, sharing the topics on the agenda, and wondered "if everything can turn out the way one wants when one is nervous".

"But without that and pressure, you can't even speak well. I am very pleased with this morning's meetings and the friendship expressed and emphasized by Li Qiang and Wang Huning is of immense importance to our country. I can't talk about some tricky issues that are not always for the public, let's leave it at that, we also have some requests and wishes. We will also raise some economic issues in a narrower format, and I hope over dinner," said Vucic.

Asked by reporters about elections, the president of Serbia said they will take place soon.

Vucic also said that in March, Serbia had the highest salaries in the western part of the Balkans. He mentioned the statistics concerning other countries, but added that what is happening in Serbian would not be possible without Chinese investments. He added that Wang Huning thinks that Serbia is on the right path and said that we are closing the gap with the most developed countries.

"I want to inform you that for the first time, Serbia had the highest salaries in the Western Balkans, it was in March. It was 1,037 (euros a month), in Montenegro 1,026. We overtook someone who had 50 percent higher salaries than us 12 years ago. We had higher gross and net higher salaries than Bulgaria, which is a member of the EU. You see how Serbia is developing, Slovakia is ahead of us, a formidable and strong country, now they are ahead of us by some 145 euros. And our public debt rate is very low. We're slowly entering the category of EU countries that we are starting to catch up. These are big news and big things and we couldn't do it without the significant Chinese investments," he said.

He stressed that the point of everything he does is for people to live better, and that he will prepare extra for the meeting with Xi Jinping.

"I think we will have a lot of good news and we will talk about it more openly on Wednesday and Thursday," Vucic added.

The president also said that he is "proud that the kolo (traditional Serbian dance) danced on the Great Wall of China was shown on all Chinese TV stations".

He once again referred to the nuclear offer, saying it was "incredible" and that he was "shocked in a positive way by both the price and the construction deadlines".

"I think the biggest problem there will be us. And our ability to learn, to be frank," he said.

Vucic previously stated that he had an extremely important and meaningful meeting with Prime Minister of China Li Qiang and that it concerned further improvement of bilateral relations, new investments, infrastructure projects, and that they also spoke about key geopolitical and regional issues.

Later, Vucic met with Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning.

During the day, Vucic is scheduled to meet with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping.

Vucic stated earlier that his visit to China is of great importance and that he hopes that more than 30 agreements and will be signed.

(Telegraf.rs)