Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Serbia on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by NATO forces during the air war over Kosovo. The bombing in 1999 resulted in the death of three Chinese nationals and strained relations between China and the United States. Xi referenced the bombing in an op-ed, emphasizing the importance of peace and preventing historical tragedies from reoccurring.
The NATO air war was launched to stop Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic’s brutal attacks on ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo. The U.S. acknowledged the bombing of the Chinese Embassy as a mistake due to faulty intelligence, with the intended target being a Serbian state arms exporter nearby. The incident heightened tensions between China and the U.S., leading to protests in China and lasting mistrust over the incident.
Despite the strained relations between China and the U.S. following the embassy bombing, it brought China and Serbia closer together. China has become Serbia’s largest provider of foreign direct investment and second-largest trading partner after the European Union. Serbia has supported Beijing’s stance on Kosovo independence and received significant Chinese investment, strengthening the partnership between the two countries.
Ahead of Xi’s visit, signs of pro-China sentiments were visible in Belgrade, with Chinese flags displayed prominently. Xi’s visit to Serbia marks the first step in his European tour, with plans to visit the former site of the Chinese Embassy and pay respects to the bombing victims. The Chinese cultural center now located at the site symbolizes China’s growing influence in Serbia and throughout Europe, showcasing the strengthening relationship between the two nations.
Visitors from China paid tribute to the victims of the bombing at a monument near the former embassy site, displaying a message of honoring martyrs and cherishing peace. Xi’s visit to Serbia highlights the deepening ties between China and Serbia, as well as China’s increasing influence in the region. The visit is seen as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote a shared future for both countries in the new era.
