Vucic hosts lunch for outgoing Chinese ambassador

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hosted a farewell lunch for outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Chen Bo on Monday.

"Recollecting all the difficult and the beautiful moments of her tenure in Serbia, anecdotes from construction sites as well as concerns we have shared. Bringing back numerous memories of meetings, agreements reached and agreements and contracts signed on major projects that have changed the face of our Serbia, brought new jobs and provided security to many families," Vucic wrote in a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram profile.

"In a year that marks the tenth anniversary of the start of the Belt and Road initiative, we recapped the results of the cooperation and friendship with China, which became even stronger in times of great challenges, when the great country helped Serbia overcome even the most difficult moments," Vucic added.

"We are endlessly thankful to Ambassador Chen Bo for the enormous efforts she has invested in the strengthening of the Serbia-China friendship and, especially, to President Xi Jinping, who has demonstrated great respect towards Serbia and an openness to partnership and cooperation, even though we are a small country," Vucic said.

He added that Chen was also "a sincere friend of Serbia and our people, who deeply respect her and whose hearts she won on day one."

"For that reason, Serbia will always be her second home," concluded Vucic, who welcomed Chen with a large bouquet of flowers.