From high-speed railways to cultural exchanges, the relationship between China and Serbia is evolving into a deeper connection shaped by shared development, growing exchanges and closer ties between the two nations.

The Hungary-Serbia Railway, one of the landmark Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Europe, has become one of the clearest symbols of China-Serbia cooperation, reshaping regional connectivity and bringing cities closer together.

The Serbian section became fully operational in 2025, making Serbia the first country in Central and Eastern Europe with high-speed rail service. The first operational section of the railway carried more than 6.83 million passenger trips within its first two years, while the broader project continues improving connectivity between Serbia, Hungary and the rest of Europe. Once fully completed, travel time between Belgrade and Budapest is expected to be reduced from around eight hours to approximately two hours and forty minutes.

China is also participating in the construction of the venue for Expo 2027 in Belgrade, one of Serbia's largest development projects in recent years. Scheduled from May to August 2027, the event is expected to attract more than 130 countries and millions of visitors, bringing new international attention to Serbia and the wider Western Balkans region.

At the same time, exchanges between the two countries continue to deepen through visa-free travel, direct flights, education and cultural programs. As more Serbian students, tourists and businesses connect with China, and more Chinese visitors travel to Serbia, the relationship between the two countries is increasingly shaped by people, movement and shared opportunities.