Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that China's development offers important lessons for countries seeking to safeguard independence while pursuing growth at Tsinghua University on Tuesday, describing China as a responsible actor that values peace, dialogue, and practical cooperation.

The Serbian leader was speaking at the Tsinghua Global Vision Lecture during his five-day state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday. The event included a speech followed by an exchange with students on China-Serbia relations, global cooperation, and the role of young people in shaping the future.

Drawing on China's experience, Vucic said a country can defend its national interests, strengthen itself, and play a constructive role in the world by following its own path.

China, he said, has become an example for many countries seeking to preserve independence, protect sovereignty, and pursue development on their own terms.

Vucic described China as a stable partner in a world undergoing profound change, saying the country has acted responsibly by seeking peace, calling for dialogue, and emphasizing the need for rules that take into account the interests of all countries.

The world is entering a new period of competition and interaction, he said, and no international arrangement should be regarded as permanent or unchangeable. Some countries, he added, have long been accustomed to the old order and to their own dominant position, but the world today is no longer the same.

In such a world, smaller countries must make their own choices, adapt to new realities, and work hard to preserve peace, stability, independence, and dignity, Vucic said.

As a small country, Serbia understands that only through learning, hard work, and a firm commitment to independence can a nation find its place in the world, he said.

From that perspective, Vucic told the students that China's progress should not be taken for granted. While those living in China may see daily changes as ordinary, the country's transformation remains striking to an outside observer even within a short period of time, he said.

He added that he has strong confidence in China's continued prosperity and bright future.

During the exchange with students, Vucic said that the China-Serbia friendship is rooted in mutual support at difficult moments and in concrete results rather than diplomatic rhetoric.

He cited Chinese participation in Serbia's infrastructure projects and the Smederevo steel plant, where a Chinese company's takeover helped preserve jobs for about 5,000 workers, as examples of cooperation that brought real benefits to local people.

High-level visits from China to Serbia, he noted, have also carried a message of respect for small countries. Lasting friendship between nations, he said, is built not only on agreements or arrangements, but on concrete action and tangible results.

Vucic also linked China's development to its openness, saying the country offers cooperation opportunities to partners from different regions. China's progress, he added, is not accidental, but the result of knowledge, hard work, education, and long-term effort.

Turning to the young audience, Vucic urged students to remain open to the world, gain broader experience, and believe in their values and principles. He said young people in China possess qualities that many countries have lost, including diligence, conviction, vision, and a strong desire to succeed.

Hard work, education, and perseverance will never become outdated, he said, adding that such qualities help make a country strong and enable it to keep moving forward.