President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Beijing on Monday, hailing the ironclad friendship between the two countries and pledging to boost cooperation. Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Vucic. In the evening, Xi awarded him the Friendship Medal, the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China bestowed on foreign nationals. Vucic is on his first state visit to China from May 24 to 28.