Beijing: The militaries of China and Serbia are set to soon hold their first joint training, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Monday. Special operations troops from both nations will participate in the Peace Guardian 2025 joint exercise in China's northern Hebei province later this month, as stated by Col. Jiang Bin, a ministry spokesman, during a news briefing in Beijing.

According to Anadolu Agency, this marks the first instance of joint training between the Chinese and Serbian militaries. Col. Jiang noted that the exercise aims to enhance the combat capabilities of the participating troops and foster deeper cooperation between the two military forces. In recent years, China and Serbia have developed closer relations, both politically and in other domains.

In 2024, China was identified as Serbia's second-largest trade partner, trailing only the European Union. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping contributed an article to a Serbian daily, emphasizing the historical bonds between the two countries. He highlighted the shared struggle and sacrifices, suggesting that this enduring friendship will motivate both nations to achieve significant progress together.