Cherishing ties with Serbia

President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday to kick off his three-nation tour of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Serbia was the first Central and Eastern European country to forge a strategic partnership with China, and the Serbian people have shown sincere and lasting friendship and respect to Chinese people. Serbia also harbors great enthusiasm for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

However, what makes this nation "somewhat unusual" is that it is the only Central and East European country that has not applied to join NATO.