Chinese President Xi Jinping rebuked NATO for its 1999 bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, condemning it as a “flagrant” act and pledging to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
His remarks, published in the Serbian daily Politika, precede his imminent visit to Belgrade, marking his first trip to Europe since the Covid pandemic began.
The timing of his visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing, which mistakenly took the lives of three Chinese journalists due to a CIA mapping error. Xi emphasized the significance of this event, stating, “Twenty-five years ago today, NATO flagrantly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists.
This we should never forget. The Chinese people cherish peace but we will never allow such tragic history to repeat itself.” Furthermore, Xi lauded the enduring friendship between China and Serbia, forged through the sacrifice of their compatriots.
His visit follows a state trip to France, where discussions with President Emmanuel Macron covered various contentious issues, including the conflict in Ukraine. As Xi embarks on his European tour, Serbia and Hungary are viewed as among the most sympathetic European nations towards Moscow, amidst Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.
China’s substantial investments in Serbia and the broader Balkan region, particularly in sectors like mining and manufacturing, underscore the deepening economic cooperation between Beijing and Belgrade, exemplified by the signing of a free trade agreement last year.
