On May 26, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is on a state visit to China, visited Tsinghua University and delivered a speech as part of Tsinghua’s Global Vision Lecture Series. Tsinghua University President Li Luming met with President Vucic, attended the speech, and delivered welcoming remarks. Li Ming, Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, Cao Lei, deputy director-general, the Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yan Xuetong, honorary president of the Institute of International Relations, School of Social Sciences, and one of the first Distinguished Professors of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, attended the event. Yang Bin, vice chancellor of Tsinghua University Council, hosted the speech.
President Vucic enters the Reception Hall of the Main Building.
President Vucic addresses teachers and students at Tsinghua University.
President Vucic delivered a speech on “Serbian-Chinese relations, current global political situation, individual development and political and economic achievements of Serbia in recent period.”
"As my friend Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez used to say, I feel very honored and privileged here in a temple of knowledge at Tsinghua University," President Vucic remarked at the beginning of his speech. Drawing on his years of governing Serbia, President Vucic shared his insights on how to deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries and explore pathways for global cooperation and shared success in a changing and turbulent world.
President Vucic delivers a speech.
President Vucic said that China, with its distinctive development model, has achieved leapfrog breakthroughs in many fields, and its development achievements over the past decade and more are evident to all. Every time he visits China, he can genuinely feel the rapid and ever-changing progress, and this vibrant and upward momentum of development is deeply moving. China has now become an important force in maintaining global peace and stability. Its path of rise fully demonstrates that only by staying down-to-earth, working diligently and striving forward, upholding the bottom line of peaceful development, and focusing on its own development can a country improve people’s well-being. China and Serbia have stood together through hardships and share a deep friendship. Serbia will remain firmly committed to its position, respect China’s development achievements, and cherish the profound friendship between the two countries. He hoped that young students would cherish the hard-won achievements in development, and, with wholehearted enthusiasm, an innovative spirit, and an open mindset, temper their character through practical action, strive to grow into pillars of the nation, and work together to create a better future for the world.
Li Luming, on behalf of faculty and students of the University, extended a warm welcome to President Vucic on his visit to Tsinghua University. He said that Serbia is an “ironclad friend” of China. The friendship between the two countries grows ever stronger with the passage of time. The world is now undergoing unprecedented changes. Solidarity and cooperation remain the only viable path to safeguard global peace and stability and achieve prosperity and development. Strengthening the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Serbia is of great significance. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, cooperation between China and Serbia across various fields has continued to deepen, and people-to-people exchanges and youth interactions have become increasingly active.
Li Luming noted that universities serve as bridges that promote mutual learning and exchanges among civilizations. Facing new realities such as the convergence and interaction of diverse civilizations and the rapid evolution of emerging technologies, Tsinghua University has further implemented its global strategy, sent faculty members and student teams to Serbia for field research, and promoted people-to-people friendship and exchanges between China and Serbia. Looking ahead, the University would strive to further deepen educational and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcome more Serbian young people to pursue their studies at Tsinghua University, so as to help the younger generation become a bridge for strengthening the friendship between China and Serbia, and to contribute Tsinghua’s wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Li Luming presents a commemorative plaque for the Global Vision Lecture to President Vucic.
Students listen closely to the lecture and engage in interactive discussion.
President Vucic interacts with students.
At the event, Li Luming presented a commemorative plaque for the Global Vision Lecture to President Vucic. In response to questions from faculty and students present, Vucic engaged in interactive exchanges on topics such as how China–Serbia relations can serve as a model for win-win international cooperation, how young people can inject vitality into the enduring friendship between China and Serbia, and what core competencies young people should develop to address global challenges.
Distinguished guests and university leaders gather for a commemorative group photo.
Prior to the lecture, Li Luming met with President Vucic and his delegation at the Main Building. The two sides exchanged views on topics including changes in the global geopolitical landscape, China–Serbia educational exchange and cooperation, and the cultivation of young talent.
Scene of the Global Vision Lecture event at Tsinghua University
Around 200 participants attended the event, including members of the Serbian delegation visiting China, staff from the Serbian Embassy in China, heads of relevant national departments and organizations, and representatives of faculty and students from Tsinghua University.
Writer: Li Han
Editors:John Paul Grima, Gillian Tang
