A Chinese documentary screening series was launched in Belgrade on Wednesday, days before Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's visit to China.

Organized jointly by China Media Group (CMG), Radio Television of Serbia (PTC), the Serbian Ministry of Culture, the Chinese Embassy in Serbia and the Serbian Embassy in China, among others, the event showcased a selection of CMG-produced documentaries covering Chinese cultural heritage, technological innovation, ecological conservation and social development. A selection of the titles is set to air on PTC and the Politika website.

CMG President Shen Haixiong, in a written address, said the initiative was a concrete step to deepen people-to-people ties under the China-Serbia community with a shared future, a framework under which Serbia became the first European country to partner with China.

Marina Ragus, deputy speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, said the documentary series serves as a dialogue that reaches the heart and mind, and helps Serbia and the world gain a more comprehensive and objective understanding of China. She expressed confidence that PTC and CMG will play an increasingly important role in promoting cultural exchanges and deepening friendship between the two peoples.

Serbian Minister of Information and Telecommunications Boris Bratina said that at a time when some promote narratives of a "clash of civilizations," nothing is more meaningful than deepening cultural exchanges under the theme of dialogue. The documentaries, he said, will allow Serbian audiences to perceive China more vividly and broaden their worldview.

Manja Grcic, director general of PTC, called the event an important achievement in Serbia-China cultural and media cooperation. She said she believes the documentaries will be well received by Serbian audiences and help them gain a deeper insight into China.

Many classic Serbian films such as "Walter Defends Sarajevo" and "The Bridge" have long been part of Chinese cultural memory, and that the documentary screening will offer Serbian audiences a unique cultural experience, Serbian ambassador to China Maja Stefanovic said in a video address.

Over 150 guests from political, academic and media circles attended the event.

Vucic is scheduled to visit China from May 24 to 28.