Vucic: Serbia a bridge between East and West

OSAKA - Speaking at a Serbian National Day ceremony at the Osaka Expo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday Serbia was a bridge between the East and West, just like the Serbia pavilion at the Osaka Expo represented a symbolic bridge between two world EXPOs: EXPO 2025 Osaka and EXPO 2027 Belgrade.

"It is my great honour and pleasure to welcome you on Serbian National Day at the Osaka EXPO 2025. Exactly on this day, September 15, we mark a great national holiday - the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag. That symbolism makes our stay here in Osaka even more significant," Vucic said.

He especially thanked Japan's minister for EXPO 2025, Ito Yoshitaka, and said that, without his support and attention, Serbia's National Day event in Osaka would not have been so impressive.

"This ceremonial moment, marked by the raising of the Serbian flag and the playing of our anthem, and then also the Japanese anthem, confirms once again the spirit of mutual respect and friendship that has been uniting us since the establishment of diplomatic relations in the era of King Milan and Emperor Meiji," Vucic said.

Japan is an important partner and investor in Serbia and some of its major companies such as NIDEC, Toyo Tires, Yazaki, Panasonic, Asahi Food and Healthcare and JTI, have a presence in Serbia and are following in the footsteps of companies like Mitsui and Mitsubishi, he said.

He said that, by bringing innovation, leading-edge technology and excellence, Japanese companies created jobs and new opportunities for Serbians.

"I can say with enormous pride that the Serbia pavilion in Osaka has been visited by more than 800,000 people. For us, that number is not just statistics - it represents 800,000 opportunities for Serbia to present its identity, its ideas and its vision. Every guest is proof that Serbia has something to offer to the world - its creativity, innovation and potential," Vucic said.