Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said “the sky is the limit” on future cooperation.
Serbia loves Xi Jinping. Like, really loves him.
The Chinese leader’s arrival in Belgrade on the second leg of his European tour ignited unparalleled enthusiasm in Serbia, a nation often regarded as one of China’s staunchest allies in Europe.
“I told him that as the leader of a great power he will be met with respect all over the world, but the reverence and love he encounters in our Serbia will not be found anywhere else,” President Aleksandar Vučić said after a welcoming ceremony in front of Palata Srbije, a lavish socialist-era compound often used for state visits.
Vučić also stressed that, when it comes to cooperation with Beijing, “the sky is the limit.”
This isn’t a bad thing, or a good thing, it’s just a geopolitical reality.
Serbia is still within even a weakened Russia’s sphere of influence, and is unlikely to move towards Europe.
But with Russia not looking so great, they still need geopolitical allies to invest and help grow their economy, possibly help with security i.e. technology.
China actually helped Serbian nationalists during their Kosovo genocide, and got their embassy in Belgrade bombed because of that. Well, because they let the Serbs use a part of it as a signals and comms center. Point is, they have very recent historical ties.
Also, Russia isn’t in a position to really push back on China for anything, so, here we are.