On November 4, Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut, who came to Shanghai to attend the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), visited Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Xuhui Campus, where he met with SJTU President Ding Kuiling and delivered a speech to faculty and students.
He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamocic, and Serbian Ambassador to China Maja Stefanovic. Also present at the event were H.E. Li Ming, Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, Cao Lei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and SJTU Vice President Liu Weidong.
During the meeting, President Ding Kuiling extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Macut and his delegation. He noted that Serbia was the first European country to build a community with a shared future with China, and China’s first comprehensive strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe. The two peoples, he said, have always been closely connected.
President Ding shared the university’s history and recent efforts to promote interdisciplinary integration and innovation mechanisms in research. He added that, guided by China’s national strategy for building strength in education, science, and talent, SJTU seeks to advance the integrated development of education, technology, and talent. He expressed hope that the Belt and Road Initiative would serve as a bridge for comprehensive academic cooperation between Chinese and Serbian universities, particularly in science, engineering, and medicine—through joint research, scholar exchanges, and the establishment of shared innovation platforms—thus contributing to the “ironclad friendship” between China and Serbia and to the creation of a brighter future for both peoples.
Prime Minister Macut spoke highly of SJTU’s outstanding reputation in the international academic community and its growing partnerships with Serbian institutions. He expressed hope for deeper collaboration in student exchanges, joint training programs, and laboratory co-construction, encouraging more young Serbian scholars to study and conduct research at SJTU. In the field of innovation, he noted that Chinese enterprises operating in Serbia have been driving industrial upgrading by establishing joint R&D centers and innovation parks. He affirmed that Serbia and China will fully implement the important consensus reached by their leaders, further deepening cooperation in education, trade, and other fields, and jointly writing a new chapter in building a China–Serbia community with a shared future in the new era.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Macut delivered a lecture at the Oriental Hall of KoGuan Law School, attended by nearly 200 SJTU faculty, students, and Chinese and foreign media representatives. The session was moderated by Vice President Liu Weidong.
In his speech, the Prime Minister offered a comprehensive overview of Serbia’s history, economy, culture, politics, and foreign policy, highlighting the deep-rooted friendship and promising prospects of China–Serbia relations in the new era. He fondly recalled the time-tested “ironclad friendship” between the two nations and the fruitful achievements under the Belt and Road Initiative. Looking ahead, he expressed hope for both countries to continue working hand in hand to build an even closer China–Serbia community with a shared future, allowing both peoples to share in the opportunities of mutual development.
During the interactive session with students, Prime Minister Macut shared his insights on China–Serbia mutual learning in grassroots governance, the role of the CIIE in boosting bilateral economic exchanges, and how the younger generation can contribute to deepening cooperation between the two nations.
At the conclusion of the event, the two sides exchanged gifts. President Ding presented Prime Minister Macut with a traditional ink scroll depicting SJTU’s history. In return, the Prime Minister gifted the university a “70 Years of China–Serbia Friendship” commemorative stamp collection and the Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić’s novel The Bridge on the Drina.
Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the KoGuan School of Law, and the School of International and Public Affairs also attended the event.
Since 2018, Shanghai Jiao Tong University has maintained strong partnerships with leading Serbian universities such as the University of Belgrade, the University of Novi Sad, and the University of Niš through faculty exchanges, joint training programs, and intergovernmental research projects. Together, they have gradually established a multi-tiered, wide-ranging, and pragmatic cooperation framework, injecting new vitality into China–Serbia relations.
Translated by: Rebecca
Proofread by: Rebecca
