BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to European ally Serbia on Tuesday falls on a symbolic date: the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during NATO’s air war over Kosovo.
U.S. jets dropped five bombs on the Chinese Embassy compound in the Serbian capital on May 7, 1999, setting it ablaze and killing three Chinese nationals. Twenty other people were injured in the incident, which has burdened relations between the two powers ever since.
Xi referred to the bombing in an op-ed published in Serbia’s Politika newspaper on Tuesday, saying that “we must not forget that 25 years ago today, NATO brazenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia,” according to translations carried by Chinese state media.
“The Chinese people value peace but will never allow historical tragedies to happen again,” Xi added.
José Ramírez breaks Larry Doby’s team record for go
Petrobras paid BRL 240.2 bi in taxes and royalties in 2023
Biden, Marcos announce infrastructure plans to counter Chinese projects
Wild weather: What to expect this weekend
Kyren Wilson wins world snooker championship for the first time after beating Jak Jones 18
VOX POPULI: Not everyone loves school lunch but it’s still vital for many
New York appeals court rejects Donald Trump’s third request to delay Monday's hush money trial
110,000 people to evacuate as floods swamp Russia, Kazakhstan
Woman in Minnesota accused in the deaths of 2 children
Strictly's Katya Jones, 34, shares fears over her 'maternal clock' amid busy dance schedule
New police search for missing mum Samantha Murphy in bushland in Victoria