From Roots to the Future — One Tree, Two Floors and a Permanent Address for Serbia in China
A new chapter in the ironclad friendship between Serbia and China has been written in Xiamen. The first Serbian House in the People’s Republic of China has officially opened — a unique space bringing together Serbian culture, science, art, business, innovation, gastronomy and a shared vision of the future.
Serbian House opened on 9 September 2026, during the week marking the first anniversary of the sister-city partnership between Belgrade and Xiamen. The friendship between the two cities has now gained a visible and lasting home.
Across more than 1,100 square metres, Serbia has gained a permanent address in one of China’s most open and dynamic cities: a place where Chinese visitors can discover Serbia, Serbian companies can take their first steps in the Chinese market, and institutions, universities, artists, students, experts and businesspeople from both countries can develop new ideas and joint projects.
This is not merely an exhibition space. It is a living home for Serbia in China.
The opening brought together senior representatives of the Republic of Serbia, Fujian Province and the City of Xiamen, members of the Serbian delegation, Chinese institutions and companies, partners, universities, media and friends of Serbia. Among those present were representatives of all six districts of Xiamen — Huli, Jimei, Xiang’an, Tong’an, Siming and Haicang — as well as the Xiamen Municipal Bureaus of Education, Commerce, Industry and Information Technology, and Culture and Tourism, the China Center for BRICS Industrial Competence and Xiamen Road & Bridge Group.
Twelve representatives of Serbia and China jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon:
Adrijana Mesarović — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Republic of Serbia;
Liao Huasheng — Vice Mayor of Xiamen;
Maja Stefanović — Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the People’s Republic of China;
Lin Na — Deputy Director General of Xiamen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office;
Pavle Bašić — Envoy of the President of the Republic of Serbia for China, Standing Member of the National Council;
Xu Dunhuang — Deputy Chief of the Jimei District Government;
Ninoslav Erić — Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Shanghai;
Wang Lihong — Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Huli District Government;
Igor Jovanović — Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of the City of Belgrade;
Danijel Nikolić — President of the Assembly and Chief Representative of the Belt and Road Institute Belgrade — Xiamen Representative Office;
Bojan Lalić — Director of the Belt and Road Institute Belgrade;
Jian Ximing — Representative of Zijin.
Following the ribbon-cutting, the guests toured Serbian House and its inaugural exhibition. Addresses were delivered by Bojan Lalić, Director of the Belt and Road Institute Belgrade; Liao Huasheng, Vice Mayor of Xiamen; and Adrijana Mesarović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Republic of Serbia, who formally declared Serbian House open.
As Bojan Lalić put it, “Today, a window has opened in China through which Serbia can be seen beautifully.”
Vice Mayor Liao Huasheng emphasised that the opening of the first Serbian House marks an important step in the development of the two countries’ ironclad friendship and economic cooperation. He recalled that Serbia had twice been CIFIT’s Guest Country of Honour, that Belgrade and Xiamen had become sister cities, and that the first Serbian products entered the Chinese market through Xiamen following the entry into force of the Serbia–China Free Trade Agreement.
THREE PILLARS OF SERBIAN HOUSE
Serbian House rests on three pillars that turn culture and friendship into tangible opportunities.
The first pillar is dedicated to citizens and visitors. Its permanent exhibition, cultural and educational programmes, digital content, gastronomy and presentation of EXPO 2027 Belgrade tell a warm, contemporary story about Serbia — its roots, great minds and identity, as well as the future it wishes to create.
The second pillar is the Serbia Business Hub. Designed as a business incubator and soft-landing platform, it will help Serbian companies explore the Chinese market. Businesses will be able to present products, test market interest, use coworking facilities and meet potential buyers, distributors and partners. The Hub will also offer support with establishing operations in China, including the possibility of registering a representative office at the Serbian House address.
The third pillar focuses on Chinese companies and concrete business connections. Serbian House will identify trade and investment partners, connect companies with institutions in Serbia and help turn an initial meeting into a long-term business relationship.
THE INAUGURAL EXHIBITION: “FROM ROOTS TO THE FUTURE”
The first exhibition is conceived as one tree, two floors and one journey through Serbia.
At its centre stands the monumental Tree of Life — a symbol of the past from which we grow, the responsibility carried by today’s generation and the future we are creating for those who follow. Made of steel to evoke the ironclad friendship between Serbia and China, the tree is clad in Serbian copper produced by Serbia Zijin Mining doo. Light travels through its roots, trunk and canopy, connecting the entire exhibition.
The journey begins on a stone path. Each visitor’s step activates a pulse of light that moves through the roots and rises towards the canopy. From the first moment, the guest becomes part of the story.
On the ground floor, in the Heritage / Roots zone, visitors meet six great figures of Serbian science, culture and art: Nikola Tesla, Mihajlo Pupin, Milutin Milanković, Mileva Marić Einstein, Vuk Stefanović Karadžić and Nadežda Petrović. They are presented not as biographies to memorise, but as six human stories — six forms of light Serbia has given the world. Their work transcended the boundaries of family, city and nation and became a lasting contribution to all humanity.
Digital windows reveal Serbian flavours, nature, tourism, history, heritage, art and traditions — from Lepenski Vir and Vinča to Belgrade, Uvac, Mount Rtanj, wine, raspberries, the kolo dance, kilims and Serbian hospitality.
Thanks to the creative work of the Serbia Actually team and the artistic video installation by Dušan Jovović, the story of Serbia gains a new dimension through contemporary Chinese technologies. The exhibition was curated by Marija Vuksanović and Danijel Nikolić, with graphic and animation design by Vojislav Ilić. Using Easpeed solutions, holograms come alive before visitors, while Tesla’s cloud stretches across a curved screen. Technology turns Serbia into a story that can be seen, felt and remembered.
Light then leads visitors upstairs, into the canopy of the future, dedicated to EXPO 2027 Belgrade and its theme, “Play for Humanity — Sport and Music for All.” In Jelena Baltić’s spatial design, the giant EXPO letters become the architecture of an experience devoted to play, sport, music and Belgrade as an open city welcoming the world. The interactive PLAY zone and the Virtual Museum of Serbia invite visitors to explore our past, heritage, present and future.
Serbian House does not preserve the past behind glass — it transforms it into light for what is yet to come.
CONCRETE RESULTS FROM DAY ONE
The opening also marked the signing of three important Serbia–China cooperation documents:
An agency agreement between Milšped doo Beograd and Transvision International Logistics of Xiamen, establishing cooperation in maritime and air transport and integrated logistics services;
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Belt and Road Institute Belgrade and Shinejoy/Tyko Group, opening cooperation in modular construction, sustainable development, education, research, innovation, cultural exchange and international business;
A Framework Agreement establishing the China–Southeast Europe Innovation and Sustainable Development Cooperation Platform, founded by the Belt and Road Institute Belgrade, Xiamen Tyko Group, the University of Novi Sad Faculty of Technical Sciences and Xiamen University of Technology.
From its first day, Serbian House demonstrated its purpose: to connect culture and business, knowledge and markets, young people and institutions — and transform friendship into projects, partnerships and opportunities.
ONE HOUSE — MANY HANDS
Serbian House in Xiamen is a project of the Belt and Road Institute Belgrade, implemented through its Xiamen Representative Office.
We extend special gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Economy, the General Secretariat of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the City of Belgrade, the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, and Serbia’s diplomatic and consular missions in China.
Our sincere thanks go to the People’s Government of Fujian Province, the People’s Government of Xiamen, and the districts of Huli, Jimei and Siming, as well as all Chinese institutions and organisations that recognised the importance of this project.
We especially thank Zijin, whose partnership support helped make possible the adaptation, opening and operation of Serbian House and the creation of its central Tree of Life. We are deeply grateful to Topavilion, which brought a complex vision to life in record time; to the Jimei International Cooperation Center; and to Easpeed, CAILIANG and diiib, whose expertise, technology and equipment helped make the space truly contemporary.
Our thanks also go to Xiamen Air, all partners from Xiamen and Belgrade, authors, designers, contractors, experts, artists, Serbia’s young chefs from the Junior Chef Club, and everyone who contributed their knowledge, work and energy.
Special gratitude belongs to our volunteers from China, Pakistan and Serbia. Their warmth, smiles and dedication helped Serbian House become, from its very first day, what its name promises: a true home and a place of welcome.
OPEN TO ALL VISITORS FROM 25 SEPTEMBER
Following the ceremonial opening, Serbian House will open to the public on 25 September 2026, welcoming Xiamen residents, their families, friends and guests of the city.
Opening hours will be Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Serbian House will be closed on Mondays.
Come and meet Serbia’s great minds, activate the light of the Tree of Life, discover Serbian flavours, music, nature and traditions, experience EXPO 2027 and see what Serbia and China can create together.
Welcome to Serbian House. Welcome to Serbia — in the heart of Xiamen.
ROOTS PRESERVE. THE TRUNK CARRIES. BRANCHES CONNECT. THE CANOPY OPENS THE FUTURE.
