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Chinese-Serbian Cooperation Unlocks New Horizons

Economic Daily, Fuzhou, May 8 (By Cai Chun)

 

At the May 1st groundbreaking for the Serbian National Football Stadium built by the Chinese State Grid Corporation in Belgrade, President Vučić positively beamed before the exuberant crowd. "In just two and a half years, Serbia will boast one of Europe's even the world's most stunning arenas, upgrading sports and recreation for all."

 

Located in Surčin district southwest of Belgrade, the Stadium and Expo Centre project cluster form national priorities supercharging Serbia's rise. The Stadium can seat 52,000 for World Cup and Euro-level football matches, while the Expo Centre will be one of Southeast Europe's largest international trade expo halls, hosting the Expo 2027 in Belgrade. Upon completion, the sprawling complex is sure to redefine the city's skyline.

 

As Serbia's economy charges ahead and infrastructure evolves its cities, Chinese firms have time and again played pivotal roles in the modernization story.

 

The Danube-spanning Zemun-Borča Bridge, delivered in late 2014 by China Road and Bridge, was Serbia's first new river crossing in seven decades. The Chinese-constructed Belgrade-Budapest Railway is the Balkans' first high-speed rail, safely and smoothly operating the Belgrade-Novi Sad section for two years to greatly benefit local travel. Sections of the E763 Highway project built by China Communications Construction Company are open, set to become a key express route linking Serbia to Montenegro's coastline. Shandong Hi-Speed Group's smart parking garage under construction in Belgrade introduces advanced Chinese concepts like the multi-level car parking system, license plate recognition, and third-party charging system for more convenient public use.

 

Capacity cooperation with China has also injected strong momentum into Serbia's industrialization. Smederevo Steelworks, once known as "Serbia's pride" and facing insolvency, climbed out of the red within six months of acquisition by Hebei Iron & Steel Group of China. It has since consistently ranked among Serbia's top exporters.

 

Shandong Linglong Tire's nearly $1 billion investment in Serbia is the largest greenfield project in the country and wider Balkans. Upon full completion, the plant will annually produce 13.62 million high-performance radial tires, positioned to become a pillar export-oriented industry for Serbia's economy. Minth's auto parts factory and Hisense's refrigeration plant have created thousands of local jobs, infusing vigor to the local economy and giving local brands wings overseas.

 

Beijing-backed deals with Huawei and other Chinese tech powerhouses are likewise turbocharging everything from broadband and smart infrastructure to integrated railway systems, accelerating Serbia's digital transformation at scale. Coinciding with this, the pioneering Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Education, or CRAIE for short, built in Belgrade by education innovator NetDragon Websoft leverages its industry-leading edge in edtech and artificial intelligence to profoundly upgrade learning across Serbia. In addition to virtual labs, intelligent classrooms and AI assistants that can converse in the local tongue, the center aggregates immersive global experiences presented through cutting-edge digital means. Students can now gain insight into topics like climate change worldwide through simulations or access intelligent analytics of their work, while VR transports them to new realms of discovery. By tapping treasure troves of big data, AI and other futuristic tech tools, CRAIE is priming Serbian youth for customized, optimized futures in the digital age.

 

As Vučić stressed, steady progress requires bold vision - with few better allies than China in making dreams reality. Their enduring partnership charges Serbia ahead on all fronts.