commons.wikimedia/Adam Moreira
The first plane on the newly established direct flight of Air Serbia from Belgrade to Shanghai landed in the largest Chinese city. The plane on the first direct flight of Air Serbia to Shanghai passed through the so-called the water gate, which he arranged in honor of the Serbian airline
On the first direct Air Serbia flight to Shanghai, the Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarović, the general director of the national airline Jirži Marek, and more than a hundred students and students on exchange between Serbia and China also flew.
The flight, which was carried out by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft from the Air Serbia wide-body fleet, went smoothly, and upon landing, Minister Mesarović and the delegation were given a festive welcome. A ceremony marking the inaugural flight was organized at the airport, and the guests from Serbia were welcomed with the song “Far Away”.
At the ceremony, Mesarović assessed that the direct flight established another bridge of cooperation between Serbia and China. She said that the direct flight from Belgrade to Shanghai of the national airline Air Serbia “confirms the firm intention that Serbia and China build a common future even stronger”.
“The direct flight from Belgrade to Shanghai by the national airline Air Serbia confirms our firm intention that the community of Serbia and China builds a common future even stronger, as we are bound by the signatures of the two presidents, Aleksandar Vučić and Xi Jinping, on the document establishing the relationship between our two countries. raised to the highest political level”, said the minister.
She thanked Air Serbia for “another bridge that strengthens the friendship between the two countries and goes towards fulfilling the common vision of the two presidents”.
“I am sure that by establishing a direct flight to Shanghai, the company itself will become more attractive and competitive in air transportation. I want to encourage our Chinese friends, entrepreneurs, tourists, students, to think even more intensely about Serbia, and to take advantage of all the advantages of our cooperation. I am referring here to the Free Trade Agreement, but also to all the other benefits that we have achieved together”, stated Mesarović.
She pointed out that Serbia has been boldly building its future and realizing its dreams for 12 years, “guided by the vision of President Aleksandar Vučić”.
“President Xi recently said, ‘Dreams and wishes may seem distant, but they can be fulfilled with dedicated work.’ I want us to work together in the future to make our dreams come true! Long live the steely friendship between Serbia and China,” said Mesarović.
She thanked China and President Xi Jinping for, as she stated, the extended friendly hand for establishing another bridge to strengthen ties between Serbia and China. She stated that economic cooperation between the two countries has recorded an upward trend in recent years and assessed that the introduction of this summer will intensify educational, cultural, scientific, financial and other cooperation.
“Connectivity is one of the basic prerequisites for global development and prosperity. “Serbia attaches special importance to mutual connection,” Mesarović said.
She pointed out that Serbia wants to host new Chinese investments and thanked China for supporting Serbia’s candidacy for Expo 2027, and invited Chinese companies to take an even greater part in the exhibition. She stated that the cities of Belgrade and Shanghai are connected by brotherly relations and wished that this flight would open new horizons of cooperation between Serbia and China.
Air Serbia General Director Jirži Marek said that the opening of the direct line represents a new chapter on the path of the national airline and establishes a vital connection with the people of China.
“This achievement shows our commitment to strengthening ties between Serbia and China in transport, trade and tourism…Also, this represents progress in our vision to bring people and cultures together around the world,” said Marek.
He reminded that Shanghai is one of the leaders of world innovation, as well as a world center for finance.
“We are proud to be able to offer our passengers a direct Air Serbia flight to this amazing city. We are convinced that the new line will meet the expectations of our passengers”, concluded Marek.
General Director of Shanghai Pudong Airport, Huang Zhenglin, welcoming the guests, said that China and Serbia enjoy long-standing friendship and assessed that the direct flight will promote trade between the two countries. He reminded that the Shanghai airport offers flights to 291 destinations in 48 countries and stated that the opening of this line will further improve the connectivity of the Shanghai Pudong airport.
As part of the ceremony, a traditional Chinese dragon dance was held as well as the cutting of the ribbon, which was cut by, among others, Minister Mesarović, Director Marek, Consul in Shanghai Saša Jeremić, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Serbia Jelena Nikolić.
Before take-off, the plane was seen off at a solemn ceremony at the “Nikola Tesla” airport in Belgrade, which was attended by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, Chinese Ambassador Li Ming, ministers in the Government of Serbia, representatives of Air Serbia and civil aviation in Serbia. Air Serbia flights to Shanghai will be operated during the winter season twice a week from Belgrade on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while flights from Shanghai will be on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Flights between Belgrade and Shanghai will also be operated during the next summer season, which begins on March 30, 2025, and tickets are already on sale. On September 30 last year, Air Serbia also established a regular airline route between Belgrade and Guangzhou, which was the company’s second destination to China, in addition to Tianjin, to which it flies from December 2022.
Source: www.vesti-online.com
