Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Order of Friendship during talks in Beijing on May 25, as the two leaders pledged to deepen their countries’ strategic partnership.

The award is China’s highest decoration for foreign nationals and was presented during Vucic’s five-day state visit, which began on May 24.

Xi described Vucic as a “creator and firm defender” of China–Serbia relations, saying the two countries’ “steel friendship” had withstood “blood and fire”. Vucic thanked him “for everything achieved so far”, according to statements released after the meeting.

The visit marks 10 years since China and Serbia established a comprehensive strategic partnership, with Serbia among the first European countries to sign cooperation documents under Beijing’s global infrastructure programme, commonly known as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi said the visit would “open a new chapter” in relations, while Vucic highlighted Chinese support for infrastructure development in Serbia and preparations for the Expo 2027 event in Belgrade.

During the visit, the two sides signed a wide range of cooperation documents covering legal, economic, technological and cultural areas. These include agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation under China’s Global Security Initiative and a medium-term action plan for the Belt and Road Initiative running from 2026 to 2028.

Further memoranda were signed on artificial intelligence cooperation, digital economy investment, education and vocational training, environmental protection, science and technological innovation, tourism and industrial and supply chain cooperation. Serbia and China also agreed on expanded customs cooperation and sanitary standards for Serbian poultry exports to China.

China is already one of Serbia’s most significant economic partners, with major investments in infrastructure, mining and heavy industry. Chinese company Zijin operates copper and gold mines in Bor, while HBIS Group manages the steel plant in Smederevo.

Cooperation has also extended into defence and security areas, with Serbia purchasing Chinese supersonic missiles earlier this year.

Serbia is China’s first free trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe, with a trade agreement that entered into force in 2024. According to official data, bilateral trade rose by 33.8% in the second half of 2024 and by 11.8% in early 2025. 

The political symbolism of the visit is also significant for Vucic, who is facing domestic pressure from ongoing anti-government protests and tensions with the European Union over reform-linked funding under the EU Growth Plan.

Xi recently hosted US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, placing Vucic in a sequence of high-profile international meetings that Serbian officials can present as evidence of Belgrade's global diplomatic relevance.

The Order of Friendship, created in 2018, has previously been awarded to a small number of foreign leaders and officials.

Before departing for Beijing, Vucic said Serbia expected to sign more than 30 agreements worth up to €1bn during the visit.