CGTN: China and Serbia call for enhanced artistic exchanges and deeper friendship | Business

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – May 27, 2026 – CGTN published an article highlighting cultural and artistic exchanges as a driving force in strengthening Sino-Serbian friendship. It highlights the efforts made by Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, to promote artistic and cultural exchanges, while providing a broader view of the cultural and artistic activities of the two countries which serve to promote mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Tamara Vucic, wife of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, visited the Beijing Dance Academy on Monday.

In the dance studios, they observed with keen interest the teaching of Chinese dance, ballet and other dances. They then attended the students’ performances and had cordial exchanges with teachers and students in a lively and warm atmosphere.

Looking at ballet practice and Chinese dance rehearsals, Peng said dance art transcends national boundaries, transmits cultures and ideas, and plays a unique role in people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning.

Peng expressed hope that artists from the two countries will strengthen exchanges and cooperation to create more remarkable works. Tamara Vucic also expressed her desire to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries and contribute to the deepening of Serbia-Chinese friendship.

Art as a bridge for Sino-Serbian friendship

Art exchange has always played an important role throughout the history of friendship between China and Serbia.

At the invitation of Tamara Vucic, Peng visited the National Museum of Serbia in 2024, the largest and oldest museum in the country. Peng and Tamara Vucic visited the museum’s painting exhibition together, watched demonstrations of Serbian women’s traditional hand weaving, and even tried making felt balls – souvenirs made from felt wool – that preserve Serbia’s traditional and cultural heritage.

During the visit, Peng repeatedly expressed his appreciation for Serbian art and crafts, praising the exquisite and distinctive craftsmanship while emphasizing the cultural heritage they convey. She expressed hope that cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Serbia will be strengthened, so as to build bridges for dialogue between civilizations.

Cultural and artistic exchanges have long been an integral part of relations between the two countries.

In 1955, Kolo, the Serbian national ensemble, made its first visit to China, marking the beginning of a long-lasting friendship that continues to this day.

In a photo exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of Kolo’s first tour of China in 2025, former State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture of Serbia Lav Pajkic said cultural cooperation is an important part of Serbia-China relations.

Over the past 70 years, the civilizations of Serbia and China have appreciated each other and engaged in exchanges and mutual learning, once again reaffirming the all-weather friendship between the two countries, he added.

Cultural exchanges promote a common future and common prosperity

Cultural exchanges have increased in recent years as the strategic partnership between China and Serbia continues to reach new heights.

During his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that China and Serbia should fully expand cooperation in the fields of culture, education, sports and tourism as well as at the subnational level, so as to perpetuate the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Serbian people.

In 2024, the Beijing People’s Art Theater visited Belgrade to present Our Jing Ke, a drama written by Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan, to show the Serbian people the artistic style and aesthetic expressions of Chinese performing arts. In January 2026, an exhibition featuring China’s famous Dehua porcelain opened in Belgrade, providing a window into traditional Chinese craftsmanship. In April, the Confucius class of the Philological High School celebrated International Chinese Language Day by singing popular Chinese songs, practicing tai chi and reciting their favorite passages from the Analects of Confucius.

These activities and art exhibitions have become important platforms and channels for China and Serbia to learn about each other.

According to a joint statement issued after the talks between Xi and Vucic, the two countries will strive to open a new chapter in people-to-people exchanges and cultural integration. As a Serbian proverb says: “Prijatelj je plod vremena” (friends are the fruits of time).

^ https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-05-26/China-Serbia-call-for-stronger-artistic-exchanges-deeper-friendship-1NsuaNKYTbq/p.html

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Source of information: CGTN