MEETING BETWEEN CITY OFFICIALS OF NOVI SAD AND THE DELEGATION FROM THE CITY OF BEIJING

The Mayor of Novi Sad Žarko Mićin and the President of the City Assembly Dina Vučinić held a meeting with a delegation from the City of Beijing, People's Republic of China, at the City Hall, during their official visit to Serbia.The Beijing delegation included Wang Xian, Deputy Mayor of Beijing; Liu Songbo, Deputy Director General of the Beijing Water Authority; Jin Hang, Deputy Mayor of Fengtai District; Wang Zhengzi, Director General of the Chaoyang District Water Authority; Fan Bin, Deputy Director of the Investment Planning Department of the Beijing Water Authority; and Liang Xiaoqing, representative of the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office.

The Mayor and the President of the City Assembly emphasized that the visit represents a continuation of the friendly relations and “ironclad friendship” between the Republic of Serbia and the People's Republic of China, strengthened by Presidents Aleksandar Vučić and Xi Jinping.

During the meeting, the officials discussed potential cooperation between Novi Sad and Beijing in the areas of urban development, trade, and communal infrastructure. They also explored the exchange of experiences in implementing major projects related to waste management and systematic purification of water and air. Special attention was given to the role of local governments in planning and implementing infrastructure solutions in the fields of environmental protection and smart city development.

Mayor Mićin highlighted that Novi Sad is making significant investments in the development of the sewerage network and the modernization of water supply infrastructure. He stressed the importance of cooperating with Chinese partners to apply innovations and technological solutions in these areas. The representatives from Beijing, a city of over 20 million inhabitants, shared their experiences in managing large urban systems, such as wastewater treatment and air purification, which contribute to maintaining ecological balance in a megacity like Beijing.

City Assembly President Dina Vučinić stated that Novi Sad is open to all forms of cooperation with the City of Beijing and expressed readiness for further institutional connections, collaboration between expert services and public enterprises, as well as opportunities for future study visits, expert exchanges, and technical cooperation.

Following the official meeting, the delegation had the opportunity to visit the natural and cultural sites in Novi Sad and the Fruška Gora National Park, as an example of sustainable tourism in the region. There, they were presented with a model for managing protected natural areas, organized by the public enterprise “Fruška Gora National Park.”

The meeting was also attended by Danijela Andrić, Member of the City Council for Utility and Inspection Affairs, and Siniša Stojšin, Advisor to the Mayor.

Novi Sad, October 15, 2025