00:00Designed by Chinese architects, a part of this magnificent structure
00:04holds the China Cultural Center in Belgrade,
00:07built on the site of the former Chinese embassy.
00:10A statue of Chinese philosopher Confucius,
00:13made by famous Serbian sculptor Jovan Soldatović, stands in front.
00:18Next to the building is a monument to the Chinese citizens
00:22killed in 1999 NATO bombing that destroyed the embassy.
00:27It is a place where dozens of people visit every day
00:30to admire the building and pay respects to the fallen.
00:35Everybody who come to this place and they should come to have a look
00:40because these people, they died for no reason.
00:46I just want to say, I want to see them and our country is great now
00:51and things happen to you wouldn't happen again, I believe.
00:54So just rest in peace.
00:58Xi Jinping laid the center's foundation stone during his previous visit in 2016.
01:04The facade resembles a traditional Chinese landscape
01:08based on Chinese artwork from the 12th century.
01:11The design is meant to symbolize China's strong cultural ties with Serbia.
01:16It represents the deepened bilateral ties between the two countries
01:23and represents also the great importance
01:27that the leaders of the two countries attached to the cultural exchange.
01:32It represents a new avenue for the communications between the two peoples.
01:37The cultural center hosts an art gallery,
01:41a large presentation room with a stage
01:43and spaces to teach calligraphy and traditional Chinese music.
01:49We have a unique and exclusive opportunity
01:52to see the new China Cultural Center in Belgrade from inside.
01:56This amazing building is soon to be open to the public.
02:02The center is first of its kind in the Balkans.
02:05Aljoš Milenković, CGTN, Belgrade.
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