Čadež: Over 100 B2B Meetings on the First Day at the Beijing Expo; Strategic Partnership Talks with Alibaba

On the very first day of Serbia’s participation at the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, interest in the Serbian pavilion was overwhelming, with over 100 B2B meetings held between Serbian and Chinese companies. Particularly noteworthy was the meeting with Mr. Yang Jiangbo, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud, where strategic cooperation was discussed, stated Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).

"We discussed the development of cloud solutions in Serbia, as well as the possibility of Alibaba Cloud—one of the leading Chinese and global tech giants—setting up infrastructure in Serbia aimed at serving the entire European market. Alibaba Cloud is seriously considering Serbia as a location for infrastructure that would cover all of Europe," Čadež added.

"The high number of meetings and the concrete discussions taking place on the very first day demonstrate the depth and strength of the relationship between our two countries. The visit is exceeding all expectations, and we are already seeing direct results of the Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and China," said Čadež in a live broadcast on the Morning Program of the Serbian National Television (RTS).

He emphasized that Serbia’s presence and organization of its pavilion at this prestigious fair, along with increasingly intensive economic ties, are a confirmation of the excellent political relations between Presidents Vučić and Xi Jinping. “China sees Serbia not only as a unique market but also as a logistics hub for the whole of Europe. The Free Trade Agreement opens the door for a large number of Serbian companies to export to the Chinese market,” Čadež said.

He noted that Serbian companies showcasing their offerings in Beijing have already had or scheduled important meetings with leading Chinese partners.

Milšped, already operating in China, held talks with the Shandong Group about joint investments and partnerships in Serbia. They are also scheduled to meet with Volvo Cars and the Chinese railway company.

Bambi has held 23 meetings, mainly with major distributors, which is an important step toward placing Bambi’s products across the Chinese market.

Fiscal Solutions, a company specializing in digital fiscalization, is in talks with Alibaba and Starbucks China.

Umbrella, a company focused on digital weather forecasting, is in discussions with ExxonMobil, Federal China Express, and other major organizations.

"Serbian companies in China are meeting with the largest distribution networks and platforms such as Meikedaown. We are entering a new phase of cooperation—from food exports to machinery and electronics, and now to IT and digital services. Everything is in place for dynamic growth in our relations," Čadež added.

In addition to meetings with Chinese companies, the Serbian delegation is also holding discussions with Chinese customs authorities to expedite procedures for Serbian products and enhance the effectiveness of the Free Trade Agreement.

“We have strong cooperation with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and its chairman, Ren Hongbing, and receive 24/7 support. A memorandum of understanding will also be signed with a company providing logistics and legal support for Serbian SMEs,” he added.

The joint participation of 12 Serbian companies was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Development Agency of Serbia. Wines from four Serbian wineries were also promoted. The 300-square-meter Serbian pavilion brought together leading Serbian companies from various sectors, including IT, logistics, the food industry, furniture manufacturing, and advanced technological solutions.