President Nikolic decorates ambassador of China

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic Tuesday presented Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Zhang Wanxue with the Order of the Serbian Flag, Second Class, for his contribution to the development and strengthening of peaceful cooperation and friendly relations between the Republic of Serbia and the People's Republic of China.

Zhang, who took up the ambassador post in 2011, said that the decision to give him the order showed that the Serbian president devoted considerable attention to the development of relations, friendship and cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

The Chinese government is also dedicating great attention to developing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Serbia, said Zhang.

I am confident that cooperation between China and Serbia will develop, expand and strengthen further in the future, said the Chinese ambassador.

He noted that after his term as ambassador to Serbia ended, he would still follow and support the development of relations between the two countries, just like before.

Chairman of the Commission on Decorations Oliver Antic, who read the decree and a brief explanation of the basis for the decision, said that Ambassador Zhang, possessed of a great understanding of the situation in eastern and southeastern Europe, had considerably contributed to improving cooperation and relations between Serbia and China in all fields.

A Chinese loan for reconstruction of the Kostolac thermal power plant, joint projects on Corridor 11 highway sections and projects to modernize Serbian railways were all approved during Zhang’s term, recalls Antic, adding that cooperation in the field of culture, sport and education have also improved in the same period.