BELGRADE -- A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Serbia's National Stadium by the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) took place here on Wednesday.

The commencement ceremony was marked by embedding a ball into the foundations of the new edifice, adorned with the signatures of eminent players and officials.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic affirmed that the stadium would be erected to the most exacting standards. Also providing facilities for the upcoming EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, the new building aspires to embody a city within a city.

"This is a significant construction endeavor," the Serbian president said in a press release.

Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming expressed gratitude to the Serbian president and government for support of Chinese companies. "We stand prepared to collaborate with Serbian partners in realizing this contemporary endeavor," Li said.