Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visits Hangzhou-based Yusei Holdings in December 2025. [Photo/WeChat account: xsjjjskfq]

From digital cooperation to people-to-people exchanges, the story of Hangzhou-Serbia relations has unfolded steadily in recent years.

The connection began in 2018, when Hangzhou and Nis, Serbia's third-largest city, signed their first cooperation agreement under the framework of the Digital Silk Road, opening new opportunities in the digital economy and intelligent manufacturing. What started as a city-level partnership gradually expanded into broader cooperation.

Economic ties soon became more tangible. In 2023, a Hangzhou-funded auto parts project was launched in Nis, turning dialogue into real industrial collaboration. With the China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement coming into force in 2024, exchanges in trade and investment gained fresh momentum.

But the relationship extends beyond business. Serbian police officers joined joint patrols in Hangzhou, vocational education cooperation deepened through the Luban Workshop initiative, and Serbian teachers and students traveled to Hangzhou to learn Chinese culinary skills. Cultural exchanges also continued, from silk exhibitions in the Serbian capital of Belgrade to visits by educational delegations.

In 2025, Hangzhou and Nis signed a memorandum of friendly cooperation, marking another milestone in their growing connection.

Today, Hangzhou-Serbia relations reflect more than just an economic partnership — they show how two places, linked by openness and exchange, are building connections across industry, education, culture and people.

An infographic on Hangzhou and Serbia's growing relations in recent years. [Photo/ehangzhou.gov.cn]