2024年5月7日，在赴贝尔格莱德对塞尔维亚进行国事访问之际，国家主席习近平在塞尔维亚《政治报》发表题为《让铁杆友谊之光照亮中塞合作之路》的署名文章。文章全文如下：

On 7 May 2024, a signed article by Chinese President Xi Jinping titled “May the Light of Our Ironclad Friendship Shine on the Path of China-Serbia Cooperation” was published in Serbian media Politika. The following is an English version of the full text of the article:

让铁杆友谊之光照亮中塞合作之路

May the Light of Our Ironclad Friendship Shine on the Path of China-Serbia Cooperation

中华人民共和国主席 习近平

Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China

孟夏之日，万物并秀。在这充满希望的时节，应阿莱克桑达尔·武契奇总统邀请，我即将对塞尔维亚共和国进行国事访问。这是我担任中华人民共和国主席以来第二次踏上塞尔维亚这片美丽传奇的土地。8年前访问塞尔维亚的美好情景仍然历历在目，8年来双方紧密合作已经取得丰硕成果。我期待，再次同武契奇总统等塞尔维亚领导人和朋友们畅叙友情、共商合作，为中塞铁杆友谊注入新活力。

When summer comes, all beings flourish. This is what makes summer the season of hope. I will pay a state visit to the Republic of Serbia at the invitation of President Aleksandar Vučić. This will be my second visit to your country, a land of beauty and legends, as President of the People’s Republic of China. The sweet scenes that prevailed during my last visit eight years ago remain very much alive in my mind. The close cooperation between our two countries over the past eight years has delivered fruitful outcomes. I look forward to meeting with President Aleksandar Vučić and other Serbian leaders and friends to renew our friendship, explore ways of cooperation, and make the ironclad friendship between China and Serbia more dynamic.

中国和塞尔维亚相距遥远，但两国人民始终心手相连。在上世纪反法西斯战争的浴火岁月和国家建设时期，两国人民培育了跨越时空的深厚友好感情。在当前世界百年未有之大变局中，双方彼此支持更加坚定，互利合作更加紧密，交流互鉴更加深入。无论国际风云如何变幻，中塞始终是真朋友、好伙伴。我们的铁杆友谊历久弥坚，树立了国家和人民交往的典范。

There has always been an affinity between Chinese and Serbian peoples despite the long distance between us. During the bitter Anti-Fascist War and our respective nation-building in the last century, the Chinese and Serbian peoples forged a strong friendship that extends through time and space. Amid the ongoing transformations unseen in a century in the world, our mutual support remains as strong as ever, our cooperation is closer, and our exchanges and mutual learning more substantive. Whatever changes in the international landscape, China and Serbia remain true friends and good partners. Our ironclad friendship is ever-growing, setting a model for state-to-state and people-to-people interactions.

我们坚持互尊互信。我同武契奇总统通过会晤、通话、信函等方式建立起良好工作关系。两国各层级各领域保持密切交往。双方充分理解和尊重各自人民选择的发展道路，坚持公平正义原则，坚定支持彼此核心利益和重大关切，在双边和多边领域的协调和合作密切顺畅。两国全面战略伙伴关系不断走深走实。

Our two countries have always respected and trusted each other. President Vučić and I have developed a good working relationship through our meetings, phone calls, and exchanges of letters. Our two countries have also maintained frequent exchanges at all levels and in all areas. We fully appreciate and respect the development paths that our respective nation has chosen. We uphold fairness and justice, firmly support each other on issues that bear on our respective core interests and are of major concern to us. We have kept close and smooth coordination and collaboration at the bilateral and multilateral levels. We have built an ever-stronger comprehensive strategic partnership that is delivering tangible outcomes.

我们坚持互惠互利。塞尔维亚是中国在中东欧地区首个自由贸易伙伴。去年，中国是塞尔维亚最大投资来源国和第二大贸易伙伴。双方经贸、产业链、基础设施建设合作方兴未艾，助力两国各自现代化进程。2016年我到访的河钢斯梅戴雷沃钢厂已是塞尔维亚三大出口企业之一。塞尔维亚的蜂蜜、红酒、牛羊肉等农食产品备受中国消费者喜爱。

Our two countries have stayed committed to mutual benefit. Serbia is China’s first free trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Last year, China was Serbia’s largest source of foreign investment and its second largest trading partner. Our thriving cooperation in trade and economic relations, industrial chain, and infrastructure development lends a great boost to our respective process of modernization. In 2016, I visited the Smederevo steel plant of HBIS Serbia, which has become one of the three biggest export companies in Serbia. Serbian honey, red wine, beef, lamb and other agricultural products are very popular among Chinese consumers.

我们坚持互帮互助。新冠疫情发生后，我同武契奇总统两次通话，就抗疫合作达成重要共识。中方向塞方援助并优先提供多批医疗防护物资，还派遣专家组赴塞尔维亚。塞方全力支持中方在疫情期间帮助旅外侨民的“春苗行动”，塞尔维亚民间组织自发向中国人民捐助口罩等物资。这种雪中送炭的兄弟情谊弥足珍贵。

Our two countries have always helped each other. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, I spoke with President Vučić twice on the phone and we agreed on a collaborative response to the pandemic. China provided assistance, prioritized the provision of multiple shipments of protective medical supplies, and sent medical experts to Serbia. On its part, Serbia provided full support to China in implementing its “Spring Sprout” program to vaccinate Chinese citizens living and working in Serbia. Nongovernmental organizations in Serbia voluntarily donated masks and other supplies to the Chinese people. Our mutual support in challenging times testifies to our invaluable brotherly friendship.

我们坚持互学互鉴。中塞都致力于追求人民幸福、国家富强，两国积极开展治国理政经验交流，加强政党交往。两国人民对彼此深怀好感，文化、体育、旅游等人文交流热络。塞尔维亚篮球明星约基奇为中国和美乡村篮球大赛鼓劲加油。两国互免持普通护照人员签证，为人员往来和交流合作提供了便利。

Our two countries have always been learning from each other. We are both committed to delivering a better life for our peoples and making our countries strong and prosperous. We have implemented many programs to share experience in governance, and have enhanced exchanges between our political parties. Our peoples have warm feelings toward each other, as evidenced by the robust cultural, sports, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Nikola Jokić, the Serbian basketball superstar, personally cheered on players of Chinese rural basketball games. China and Serbia have agreed on a mutual visa-free arrangement for ordinary passport holders, which facilitates people-to-people exchanges and bilateral cooperation.

中国人讲，“朋友以义合”。塞尔维亚人说，“朋友是生命中最好的财富”。中塞长期友好交往和互利合作充分表明，两国关系不断深化发展顺应历史潮流，符合人民根本利益，有利于双方共同进步。新时代新征程，中塞全面战略伙伴关系进一步发展具有广阔空间。我愿通过这次访问，同塞方一道努力，发扬光大中塞铁杆友谊，用实实在在的行动，更好造福两国人民，促进世界和平和发展，共同推动构建人类命运共同体。

A Chinese axiom goes, “Friends are those who are like-minded.” And Serbians would say, “Friends are the greatest asset in life.” The long-lasting friendship and win-win cooperation between China and Serbia makes it clear to us that a stronger bilateral relationship conforms with the trend of history and serves the best interests of our two peoples. It also helps promote our common progress. On the new journey of the new era, the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership has more potential for further growth. During my upcoming visit, I will work with my Serbian friends to bring out the best in our ironclad friendship and take real efforts to deliver more benefits to our two peoples, advance world peace and development, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

我们要始终做真诚相待的好朋友。中塞将深化和拓展全面战略伙伴关系。双方将沿着相互理解、相互信任、相互支持、相互助力的道路不断前进，继续在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上给予对方坚定支持。中国尊重和支持塞尔维亚人民自己选择的发展道路，支持塞尔维亚维护国家主权和领土完整的努力，反对任何势力干涉塞尔维亚内政。

We should always be good friends and treat each other with sincerity. We will deepen and expand our comprehensive strategic partnership. We will continue to show each other understanding, trust, support and assistance. We will remain steadfast in supporting each other on issues that bear on our respective core interests and are of major concern to us. China respects and supports the development path that the Serbian people have chosen of their own will. We support Serbia’s efforts to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose any attempt by any forces to interfere in Serbia’s internal affairs.

我们要始终做合作共赢的好伙伴。中国正在以高质量发展全面推进中国式现代化，加快发展新质生产力。近年来，塞尔维亚经济社会发展成就显著。中塞要深入挖掘互利合作潜力，落实好共建“一带一路”中期行动计划，争取打造更多标志性项目，拓展科技创新、先进制造、绿色能源、数字经济、人工智能等新兴领域合作，共享发展机遇，共创美好未来。

We should always be good partners for win-win cooperation. China is striving for its modernization in all respects through high-quality development, and moving faster to develop new quality productive forces. Serbia has achieved remarkable economic and social development in recent years. Our two countries should further unleash the potential of our mutually beneficial cooperation. We should deliver on the midterm action plan for Belt and Road cooperation, and build more flagship projects. We should expand cooperation in technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, green energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence and other emerging areas. We should share development opportunities and create a better future together.

我们要始终做促进公平正义的好榜样。中塞两国作为铁杆朋友和世界和平的维护者，在诸多重大国际和地区问题上立场相近。面对变乱交织的国际形势，我们要加强在联合国等国际组织中的协调和配合，共同倡导平等有序的世界多极化和普惠包容的经济全球化，践行真正的多边主义，致力于维护世界和平稳定和国际公平正义。

We should always play an exemplary role in promoting fairness and justice. As ironclad friends and defenders for world peace, China and Serbia hold similar positions on many major international and regional issues. Facing a fluid and turbulent world, we should step up coordination and cooperation in the United Nations and other international organizations, and advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We should practice true multilateralism, and endeavor to maintain world peace and stability and safeguard international fairness and justice.

我们要始终做民心相通的好知音。中塞铁杆友谊经历过血与火的淬炼，在新时代更加焕发出新的光彩。我们要打造立体多元的人文交流和地方合作格局，用好“免签+直航”效应，发挥好互设文化中心的作用，加大教育、体育、文化、旅游等合作，为青年创造更多机遇，让中塞友好薪火相传。

We should always strengthen the heart-to-heart connection between our two peoples. Our ironclad friendship has withstood the test of blood and fire, and shines even brighter in the new era. We should promote multi-dimensional people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and diversify subnational cooperation. We should make good use of the combined effect of “mutual visa exemption plus direct flights” as well as our respective cultural centers to promote cooperation in education, sports, culture and tourism. We should create more opportunities for our youth so that the China-Serbia friendship will be carried forward from generation to generation.

此时此刻，我们不能忘记，25年前的今天，北约悍然轰炸中国驻南联盟大使馆，邵云环、许杏虎、朱颖3名中国记者不幸遇难。中国人民珍视和平，但绝不会让历史悲剧重演。中塞两国人民用鲜血凝成的友谊成为两国人民的共同记忆，也将激励双方一道阔步前行。

Twenty-five years ago today, NATO flagrantly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists-Ms. Shao Yunhuan, Mr. Xu Xinghu and his wife Zhu Ying. This we should never forget. The Chinese people cherish peace, but we will never allow such tragic history to repeat itself. The China-Serbia friendship, forged with the blood of our compatriots, will stay in the shared memory of the Chinese and Serbian peoples, and will inspire us to march forward with big strides.

回望征途千山远，翘首前路万木春。站在新的历史起点上，我们愿同塞尔维亚朋友一道，不忘初心、携手进步，共谱国家发展振兴新篇，共建新时代中塞命运共同体。春华秋实，让我们一起见证和期待中塞友谊之树茁壮成长，结出更多造福两国人民的累累硕果。

While looking back at the journey our two countries have traveled together, we also look forward to the promising future we aspire to embrace. We have now come to a new historic milestone. We on the Chinese side are ready to work hand in hand with our Serbian friends to make our shared aspiration and common progress a reality. Together we will write a new chapter in the development and rejuvenation of our nations. Together we will build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era. Flowers in spring will turn into fruits in autumn. The tree of China-Serbia friendship will grow tall and sturdy and bear more fruits for our two peoples. This is what we expect and what we hope to witness together.