STORY: Post of Serbia issues commemorative BRI postage stamps
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 28, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:05:06
LOCATION: Belgrade
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Belgrade
2. various of the postage stamps
3. various of the ceremony
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Serbian): ADAM SOFRONIJEVIC, Director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Serbian): ADAM SOFRONIJEVIC, Director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHANG ZHE, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia

STORYLINE:

The Post of Serbia unveiled two distinctive editions of postage stamps on Thursday, marking the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and highlighting China's profound cultural heritage.

During the ceremony at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, Adam Sofronijevic, director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia, formally presented the special stamp editions to Wang Yanliang, director of the Chinese Cultural Center, and Zhang Zhe, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia.

Sofronijevic said that these stamps symbolize the mutual desire for cooperation and aim to facilitate cultural exchanges between the two countries.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Serbian): ADAM SOFRONIJEVIC, Director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia
"We want to depict the most beautiful aspects of China on postage stamps. Apart from expressing gratitude for significant investments, quality goods and services from China, we want Serbian citizens to see an image of an attractive tourist destination and hold China in their hearts."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Serbian): ADAM SOFRONIJEVIC, Director of the "Srbijamarka" unit within the Post of Serbia
"Postage stamps travel the world and showcase what is important to Serbia at this moment - friendship with China." 

Emphasizing the strengthening friendship between Serbia and China, Zhang Zhe highlighted the evolving cultural exchanges as a new dimension in their high-quality relations.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHANG ZHE, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia
"The two special postal stamp editions signal that Serbia-China relations have entered a new phase of high-level comprehensive development, witnessing the fruitful results of pragmatic cooperation in various fields."

The special edition titled "Serbia-China: 10 years since the establishment of the Belt and Road Initiative" features images symbolizing the robust collaboration between the two nations. Artistic elements include the Bell Tower of Xi'an, the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, and the elegant "Belt and Road" inscription in Chinese calligraphy.

Another captivating series, "Cultural and natural heritage of China as an integral part of world heritage," delves into China's rich cultural legacy.

The Post of Serbia has pledged to issue two special editions of postage stamps dedicated to the Serbia-China friendship annually, starting this year.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Belgrade.
(XHTV)