Vladimir Živanović 寿治平
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1985, I attended “Zmaj Jova Jovanović” primary school in Voždovac and was eventually chosen as the best student of the generation 1992. During primary school, all the way back in March 1998, I started learning Chinese with professor Marina Pop-Cenić at Kolarac People’s University.
During NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, Chinese language and culture classes at Kolarac People’s University continued, in spite of the risks. Together with the other students who attended Chinese classes during this time, I featured in the weekly edition of Borba newspaper on 12th June 1999.
From 2000 to 2004 I attended Philological High School in Belgrade, majoring in Chinese Language and Literature, and I was also chosen as the best student of the generation 2000.
As member of the Far East Society in Belgrade since 1998, I participated in numerous activities aimed at promoting Chinese culture to Serbian audiences. More about that here.
Between 2000 and 2015, I was an active dancer in Gradimir Folklore Ensemble from Belgrade. This photo was taken during the “Golden Knight” Festival in Kursk, Russia, in November 2011.
In 2004 I enrolled in University of Belgrade Faculty of Philology, also majoring in Chinese Language and Literature. In 2006 I received scholarship of the Government of the People’s Republic of China for specialisation in Chinese language, and I spent one semester at Beijing Language and Culture University.
In 2007, I participated in the 6th Chinese Bridge (Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Chinese Students) in Changchun, as the first representative from Serbia, and won the “Toshu Fukami Cup” for Most Skillful Eloquence.
During and after University, I worked as interpreter for various Chinese delegations visiting Serbia, and you can see some highlights of my portfolio here.
In 2010 I spent four months on the streets, fighting to save Plane tree no. 198 from being cut down by the city government. My mission did not succeed, because if we listen to our citizens, that’s called democracy, and we can’t have that in Serbia, now, can we? We must keep fighting, though.
In 2013 I initiated the “Radoje Domanović” Project, with the aim to digitise and further promote to Serbian and global audiences the works of one of Serbia’s most famous satirists. The project has since become the largest and most reliable on-line repository of works of Radoje Domanović (1873–1908).
In 2015 I started my ongoing career in the automotive industry, working my way up from the assistant to the CEO, to quality engineer, eventually becoming the manager of Quality Assurance Department in Mei Ta Europe, where I work to this day. If you want to know more about quality management, you can go to this page.
In 2024 I featured in a show on MAG TV, local TV station in Obrenovac, where I talked about my experiences of working in Mei Ta Europe.
In 2020 I became a part of the founding team of NoRules publishing house in Belgrade, actively supporting growth of the business as editor and translator.
So, that’s me. And if I can support you to add value to your quality management processes, to convey your message to your business partners in a professional way, or shape a compelling narrative, you know where to find me.
zivanovic.org 