Serbian President Vucic Reaffirms One-China Principle During Nis Visit

President Vucic Affirms One-China Stance in Nis

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic unequivocally reaffirmed Serbia's support for the One-China principle on Thursday, December 12, 2025, during a visit to Nis, Serbia's third-largest city. President Vucic stated that the Taiwan question is an internal affair for China, emphasizing that its resolution should be entirely decided by China itself, as it falls within China's sovereign rights. He declared Serbia's 'firm and unwavering' support for this principle.

Context of the Presidential Visit

The Serbian President's remarks were made during an inspection of a Chinese-invested auto parts manufacturing enterprise in Nis. He was accompanied by several key officials, including Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic, and Mayor of Nis Dragoslav Pavlovic. During the visit, President Vucic engaged in discussions with company representatives and toured the production workshops, highlighting the significance of Chinese investments in Serbia.

Serbia's Consistent Support for China

President Vucic underscored the importance of the 'ironclad friendship' between Serbia and China, noting that Serbia 'cherishes' this relationship. He explicitly stated, 'Just like we in Serbia have no problem with saying that, for us, Taiwan is the People's Republic of China, that we support the One China principle... We fully support China's policy, which is based on the norms of international public law and the UN Charter.' This statement aligns with Serbia's long-standing position, which President Vucic has reiterated on multiple occasions, including during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Serbia in May 2024.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Economic Cooperation

The visit to Nis also served to highlight the robust economic partnership between Serbia and China. President Vucic acknowledged that Chinese investment is 'vital to Serbia's economic and social development and job creation,' and pledged Serbia's continued 'comprehensive support' for Chinese companies operating in the country. Recent developments in bilateral economic relations include:

• The full opening of the Serbian section of the Hungary-Serbia railway.
• The entry into force of a Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and China in July 2024, eliminating customs duties on approximately 20,000 products.
• China being the largest foreign investor in Serbia in 2024.

Furthermore, President Vucic announced that he is preparing for his first official visit to China, describing it as a visit of 'extraordinary importance' and expressing gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his continuous support.