China thanks Serbia for supporting its core concerns as Taiwan continues to cast a shadow over its relations with Europe

Foreign Minister Wang Yi uses visit to Balkan state to hail the country as a ‘role model’ for European cooperation with China

Taipei’s efforts to boost relations with Europe have angered Beijing, which regards the island as a core part of its territory

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic in Belgrade. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30pm, 29 Oct 2021Updated: 10:03pm, 29 Oct 2021

China has hailed the “unprecedented high level” its relationship with Serbia has reached and said the two sides will continue to support each others’ core concerns at a time when Taiwan has been working to boost its ties with Europe.

The remarks by Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to the EU candidate country on Thursday came amid growing tensions between China and Europe, and follows last week’s vote by the European Parliament supporting closer relations with Taiwan.

“The China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership has grown to an unprecedented high level. Both sides have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns,” Wang told his Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

In a separate meeting with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Wang said the relationship between the two countries set a benchmark for Beijing’s relations with other European countries.

“Our relations have set a benchmark for mutually beneficial cooperation and belt and road cooperation served as a role model for the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries,” Wang said.

Taiwan has moved to boost its relations with Europe in recent months, with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu visiting Slovakia and the Czech Republic this week.

Beijing fiercely opposes other nations establishing formal diplomatic relations with the island, which it regards as part of its own territory. It has attacked Lithuania for its decision to allow a “Taiwanese Representative Office” to open in its capital.