On the afternoon of August 20, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks at the Great Hall of the People with his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic, who is here in China for a state visit. Both sides exchanged in-depth views on establishing and developing China-Serbia strategic partnership, as well as international and regional issues of common concern and reached broad consensus.

Hu highly valued China's relations with Serbia, saying the two peoples have profound traditional friendship and no matter what happened in the world, the relations between the two countries have always developed healthily and steadily. In recent years, the two countries have maintained close high-level exchanges and conducted pragmatic cooperation in the economic and trade sectors, with expanding cooperation in other areas. Both sides have also kept close coordination in international multilateral organizations and major issues concerning their respective core interests. Hu said China respects the development path chosen by the Serbian people independently based on their national conditions and appreciates Serbia for its adoption of the good-neighborly and friendly policy, as well as its efforts to promote stability and development in the Western Balkans. China is ready to work with Serbia to push bilateral ties to a new level based on the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and common development.

Tadic said the two peoples have maintained long-term friendship and the relationship between both sides has a solid foundation and has developed smoothly. Serbia thanks for China's consistent just position on Kosovo and other issues and attaches great importance to China's international status and role. To develop ties with China is a priority of Serbia's foreign policy. Serbia is ready to take the opportunity of the establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries to further enhance exchanges and cooperation with China. Tadic reaffirmed that Serbia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports the Chinese government's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Hu put forward a four-point proposal on establishing and developing China-Serbia strategic relationship. First, have more political exchanges. He said the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges, promote inter-governmental, inter-parliamentary and inter-party exchanges and cooperation. The two countries should also jointly implement various tasks set forth in their joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership. Second, enlarge economic and trade exchanges. Both sides should take joint measures to actively tap potential, cultivate new growth points, maintain the sustained and stable development of bilateral trade and gradually improve the trade balance in the development process. Hu said China is willing to enhance cooperation with Serbia in the major fields of infrastructure, petrochemicals, energy and high-technology and encourages the enterprises of the two countries to expand mutual investment. Third, enhance humanities exchanges. Both sides should expand cooperation in culture, education, health, sports, science, technology and tourism, and encourage the youths, non-governmental groups and local governments to carry out exchange activities in various forms in a bid to enrich bilateral ties. Fourth, strengthen multilateral cooperation. Hu suggested that the two countries should maintain contacts and consultations in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, and exchange views and coordinate positions on major international and regional issues in a timely manner. Both sides should jointly cope with various global challenges such as the global financial crisis, climate change, sustainable development and international counter-terrorism, and promote dialogue and exchanges between different civilizations in order to safeguard world peace and promote common development.

Tadic said Serbia is willing to maintain exchanges with China at high and other levels and enhance mutual trust and understanding. Serbia thanks for China's support and assistance to Serbia's economic development and hopes to discuss new areas and new channels of expanding economic and trade cooperation with China. Serbia also welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Serbia and conduct cooperation with Serbia in infrastructure construction and other key areas, he said. The Serbian side will do its utmost to cooperate with China in holding the Festival of Chinese Culture in Serbia this autumn and support Belgrade and Beijing to carry out exchanges between friendly cities. Tadic said Serbia will participate in the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai actively. Serbia is ready to strengthen contact and cooperation with China on major international and regional issues.

After the talks, both sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries. The two heads of state attended a signing ceremony of several documents on infrastructure, economic and technological cooperation and tourism.

Prior to the talks, President Hu Jintao held a welcoming ceremony for his Serbian counterpart Tadic at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Chen Changzhi, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Sun Jiazheng, Vice Chairperson of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL) Central Committee Huang Zhixian, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Wei Jinghua attended the welcoming ceremony.