BELGRADE -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived late on May 7 in Belgrade for a two-day visit to Serbia as part of his drive to increase Beijing’s influence in Europe’s economic and political affairs.
Xi was traveling from France, where he met with President Emmanuel Macron, who pressed him to loosen China's trade restrictions and to use his influence with Russia to halt the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.
SEE ALSO: What Is Behind Serbia And China's 'Ironclad Friendship'?The Chinese leader is likely to receive less pushback in Belgrade from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has sought to maintain close ties with both China and Russia, even as he attempts to lead his country to eventual EU membership.
Xi was greeted at the airport by Vucic, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic, Foreign Minister Marko Duric, former President Tomislav Nikolic, and Ambassador to China Maja Stefanovic.
Following his stay in Serbia, Xi will travel on to Budapest, where he is also expected to receive a warm welcome from Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who also has kept close ties with Russia and China despite Hungary being an EU member.
Xi, in his second state visit to Serbia in the past eight years, is likely to discuss a wide range of topics -- from foreign policy, to economy, technology, and culture – with Vucic, whose nationalistic, Russia-friendly policies have raised alarms in the West.
Officials from both countries describe the visit as "strengthening the iron-clad friendship," reflected in infrastructure cooperation as well as alliance in political matters, and they announced that more than 30 agreements have already been negotiated by the two sides.
Serbian media reported that extensive security measures have been taken for the visit -- with some 3,400 security personnel securing Xi's delegation, which consists of 400 members.
Members of the Chinese delegation, ministers, and institutional representatives arrived in Belgrade before Xi, where they were welcomed at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali and Trade Minister Tomislav Momirovic.
Ahead of the Chinese president's arrival, Belgrade was decorated with flags of Serbia and China, and welcome messages were set up along the route from the airport to the city center in Serbian and Chinese.
Xi's plane was escorted by MiG-29 fighters upon entering Serbian airspace, and a guard of the Serbian Army was organized at Belgrade Airport in his honor.
A ceremonial reception of the delegation in front of the Palace of Serbia will be organized the following day.