Tomislav Nikolic, former president of Serbia, delivers a speech at the parallel session "China's 70-Year Development and the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" of the Second Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)
"I am encouraged that my son let me know that life has been returning to China, more cars can be seen along the streets, as people start going to work, although the control is still rigorous. I am confident that you will overcome this," said former Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, whose younger son now lives in Shanghai, China.
BELGRADE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Wednesday spoke highly of China's measures against the COVID-19 epidemic and is certain that the Chinese economy will continue to grow.
Nikolic, who is also president of the National Council for Cooperation with China and Russia, made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua after a signing ceremony for a donation of his institution to a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment based in Serbia.
He said China deserves praise for its handling of the epidemic.
"That is how we got to today's results -- there is a decrease in the number of newly infected patients in Hubei and across China. I truly admire the efforts of Chinese people and authorities," he said.
Nikolic said his younger son and his family are living in Shanghai.
Staff measures the body temperature at the entrance of a hospital in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 3, 2020. Various measures are taken across China to combat the novel coronavirus. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
"I am encouraged that my son let me know that life has been returning to China, more cars can be seen along the streets, as people start going to work, although the control is still rigorous. I am confident that you will overcome this," he said.
Nikolic compared the novel epidemic with the outbreak of SARS, noting that the Chinese economy saw a high growth in that year.
"I know China will recover and compensate all economic losses, because its success has been a result of hard work in the past, and China will know how to recover." ■
