Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Serbia on the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo war, Associated Press reports.
The bombing, which killed three Chinese nationals and injured 20 others, strained relations between China and the US since it occurred in 1999. Despite the US apology for the bombing, the incident fueled anti-American sentiments in China, with some speculating that the attack was intentional. However, the incident brought China and Serbia closer together, with China becoming Serbia’s largest foreign investor and second-largest trading partner, and the two countries share a common stance on Kosovo’s independence.
Xi emphasized the friendship between China and Serbia forged in blood and expressed China’s commitment to working with Serbia to build a shared future. Xi is expected to visit the site of the former embassy and pay respects to the bombing victims. The area now houses a Chinese cultural center, symbolizing China’s growing influence in Serbia and across Europe.
