Xi's wife visits special education school in Belgrade

Peng Liyuan (L), Chinese President Xi Jinping's wife, and Dragica Nikolic, wife of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, plant a dove tree symbolizing friendship between the two countries at the Jevremovac Botanical Garden in Belgrade, Serbia, June 18, 2016. Accompanied by Dragica Nikolic, Peng Liyuan visited the botanical garden in Belgrade on Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua]

After her visit to the special education school, Peng, accompanied by Dragica, came to the Jevremovac Botanical Garden, a unique natural asset situated in downtown Belgrade, dubbed "the lungs of the city" by local residents.

In the world-renowned garden, they jointly planted a Chinese dove tree, a species as rare as the giant panda.

Peng said she believed the tree will surely flourish just like the China-Serbia friendship.

Later, they paid a visit to a local tennis academy named after top-ranked Serbian netman Novak Djokovic.

"Xiao De (the Chinese pet name of Djokovic) has lots of fans in China," Peng told Djokovic's mother and other relatives.

Not only does he have consummate tennis skills, but also is full of patriotism, commented Peng, who also offered a special present to the academy: the Chinese version of Djokovic's autobiography.