A college graduate hailing from the Balkan nation has fully embraced the Chinese spirit, Cao Chen reports in Shanghai.

Filip Filipovic may not look Chinese, but one could be forgiven for thinking he is just by listening to him speak Mandarin.

After all, the 23-year-old Serbian, who recently graduated from the school of international relations and public affairs at Fudan University, has been learning the language for the past 18 years.

The only overseas student to be conferred the university's 2020 Graduation Stars award, which recognizes students who have showcased all-round excellence, Filipovic even claims that he isn't all that different from his Chinese counterparts.

"Like most Chinese graduates, I experienced nine years of compulsory education in China and have often stayed up all night to prepare for presentations or essays during my days at the university," said Filipovic during his commencement ceremony.

He adds that there are many foreign students like him who have been eagerly learning the Chinese language and about the country's culture, hoping to foster deeper connections between China and their home nations.

Filipovic learned the Chinese language when he was still in Serbia because his father, who used to study Chinese history, religion and philosophy, sent him for private lessons.