Serbia's President urges EU to follow its China partnership model
Serbia saved a steel mill with Chinese investment, now 5,000 jobs.
Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia, calls on the European Union to adopt a more open partnership with China, drawing from Serbia's own experience. He argues that European discussions about China are too often clouded by suspicion and strategic anxiety, and suggests that Europe should approach China with confidence and a willingness to cooperate. Vučić points to Serbia as a trailblazer in practical, mutually beneficial cooperation that has yielded visible results across infrastructure, energy, and technology.
Central to his argument is the revival of the Smederevo steel mill, which was on the brink of collapse before Chinese investment from HBIS Group revitalized it. Today, the mill directly employs 5,000 people and supports thousands more. Vučić recalls President Xi Jinping's 2016 visit, where workers welcomed Xi as a leader who understood their struggles. He urges the EU to see China not as a threat but as a partner for concrete benefits to ordinary people, workers, and families.
- Serbia's Smederevo steel mill was saved by Chinese investment from HBIS Group, now directly employing 5,000 people.
- Vučić highlights partnership benefits in infrastructure, energy, and technology as a model for EU-China relations.
- Vučić urges the EU to approach China with confidence and openness instead of suspicion and strategic anxiety.
Why It Matters
Vučić's appeal could reshape EU-China relations, advocating pragmatic cooperation over strategic anxiety.