Over the past decades, China and Serbia have enjoyed mutual respect, mutual understanding, support and trust. Serbia is China's first comprehensive strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). On October 17, 2023, China and Serbia signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in Beijing to boost bilateral trade and business ties. This was the first FTA signed between China and a CEE country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10. The visits will be the Chinese president's first trip to Europe in nearly five years.

Ahead of Xi's visit to Serbia, let's look at some key data on the two countries as well as some statistics on their bilateral cooperation in trade and investment.