BELGRADE [Serbia], Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday for a state visit to Serbia. The Serbian Air Force sent two fighter planes to protect Xi's plane after it entered Serbia's airspace, Xinhua reported. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his wife Tamara Vucic welcomed Xi Jinping at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Xinhua reported. Children welcomed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan by giving them flowers and waving the national flags of China and Serbia. After concluding his visit to France, Xi arrived in Serbia. "China and Serbia enjoy deep traditional friendship," Xi said in a written statement after arriving in Serbia.Our bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international environment and has become a good example of state-to-state relations." He also plans to use the visit to renew friendship with Aleksandar Vučić on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. Looking forward to taking this as an opportunity to plan cooperation, explore development, and draw a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations, he said, "I am confident that this visit will be fruitful and enhance China-Serbia relations. It will open a new chapter." Xi said, "I am very pleased to pay a state visit to the Republic of Serbia at the warm invitation of President Vucic. He added, “On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes.The people of Serbia extend best wishes to the friendly government.'' Xi said relations between the two countries have developed rapidly and achieved historic results since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, Xinhua reported. China and Serbia have firmly supported each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns, he said, adding, "We have jointly upheld international fairness and justice, and safeguarded world peace and development. Xi Jinping, who was on a two-day visit to France before arriving in Serbia, held talks with his French counterpart at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday. At a press conference, the two leaders called for a "ceasefire" in Ukraine and other global conflicts.Paris Olympic Games. Xi and Macron also discussed China's ongoing support for Russian leader Vladimir Putin Macron called on the Chinese to "refrain from selling any weapons" to Russia and to "closely control the export of dual-use equipment." Welcoming the "commitments", he said such statements were "reassuring". Politico quoted Xinhua as saying Xi warned against "slandering" China over Ukraine and called on all sides to resume engagement and dialogue to build mutual trust. The Chinese president said China and France should uphold independence and jointly prevent a "new Cold War" or bloc confrontation. A 10-point statement was issued by the Elysee on the declaration between France and China on the situation in West Asia. It came as Hama officials gave their approval to a ceasefire deal for Gaza brokered by Qatar and Egypt.In the statement, Macron and Xi expressed "their opposition to the Israeli attack on Rafah, which will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe the next day." The two Heads of State stressed that there is an urgent need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to ensure the delivery of large-scale humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip and called for the "immediate unconditional release of all hostages". He also pledged his commitment to promote a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, while guaranteeing humanitarian access to meet other humanitarian needs, as well as respect for all detained persons. The Chinese leader also held three-way talks with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.