Filip Filipovic, a Serbian doctoral student at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University, was invited to attend the ceremony at which Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the evening of May 25.

The occasion marked another milestone in the long-standing friendship between China and Serbia. For Filipovic, who has lived in China for more than 20 years, the experience was both deeply personal and profoundly inspiring.

Filipovic began his studies at Fudan University in 2016. Since arriving at the university, he has gradually become involved in cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Serbia, initially through translation and related support before expanding into media communication, youth dialogue programs, academic exchanges, and international cooperation activities. Over the years, his experiences at Fudan have deepened his understanding of international relations beyond textbooks and academic theory.

At Fudan, Filipovic came to realize that relations between countries are ultimately built through people, exchanges, and cooperation. Every academic visit, media exchange, and major event helped him better understand what it truly means to serve as a bridge between two nations.

Filipovic recalled that when applying to Fudan years ago, he wrote in his personal statement that he hoped to become "a bridge" connecting China and Serbia. What once seemed like a simple goal centered on language and communication has since evolved into a broader understanding of mutual trust, cultural understanding, and people-to-people connectivity.

The ceremony also allowed him to meet diplomats, scholars, media professionals, and long-time contributors to China-Serbia relations from both countries. Their dedication, he said, left a lasting impression on him.

He credited Fudan University's open academic environment and international platform with shaping his personal and professional growth while giving him opportunities to participate in real-world exchanges beyond the classroom.

Fudan not only helped him strengthen his academic abilities but also gave him the opportunity to better understand China and engage in international dialogue, he said.

Filipovic believes that young people can play an important role in strengthening China-Serbia ties through cultural, academic, and people-to-people exchanges. He described the ceremony as the highest-level event he has attended in China and a defining moment in his student journey.

Source: Official WeChat account of Fudan University's School of International Relations and Public Affairs (ID: fudan_sirpa_tw)