On the third day of his European tour, Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Serbia. He's arrived on a symbolic day. 25 years ago, three Chinese journalists were killed during the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

Belgrade

Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently in Serbia, marking the third day of his European tour. His visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of a tragic event during the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, where three Chinese journalists lost their lives. This visit underscores the deep ties and shared memories between China and Serbia, particularly their mutual sentiments towards NATO actions in the past.

Xi Jinping's journey to Serbia follows his stay in France, where significant discussions on trade and Russia took place. Serbia, striving towards EU membership yet seeking to diversify its international relationships, welcomes Xi. The Serbian policy aims for economic independence, avoiding reliance on any single partner, including China, Russia, or European states. The visit highlights a period of reflection and strategic partnerships, especially considering the historical context of NATO's bombing in the former Yugoslavia in 1999, which saw the destruction of the Chinese embassy and catalyzed a strong response from China.

The visit is seen by many as a nuanced statement from Xi Jinping regarding NATO's actions and perceived double standards, especially in relation to Russia. It contrasts with China's advocacy for peace and dialogue, illustrating the significance of Sino-Serbian relations. This relationship is symbolized by the Smederevo steel plant, a project Xi promised to save, thus preserving 5,000 jobs. Despite economic benefits, the collaboration has drawn criticism due to concerns over environmental impact and the influence of China's governance model.

Furthermore, Serbia's engagement with China is seen within the context of its aspirations for EU membership. A minister mentioned that a free trade agreement with China would be terminated upon Serbia's accession to the EU. This reflects Serbia's balancing act between fostering relations with China and aligning with European standards, particularly concerning democracy and the rule of law.



Xi Jinping in Serbia on third day of Europe tour

Serbia has gone out of its way to make the Chinese leader feel at home. Arriving from France, where he held critical talks on trade and Russia, Xi Jinping has chosen one of China's most dedicated European friends for his second stop. Serbia has long been trying to become a member of the European Union and decided to look eastwards. Our policy is to have diversification, because we don't want to be dependent on anyone. Not from China, from Russia, from Europe, because we want to build our economy. Xi's arrival on this day is no coincidence. In 1999, NATO bombs destroyed a Chinese embassy, killing three Chinese journalists. It was part of a NATO bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia. The United States said the attack on the embassy was an accident. China has never believed that. This shrine, where the Chinese embassy used to be, is not only meant to commemorate the victims of May 7, for many in Serbia and China it also marks NATO aggression and a shared feeling of resentment towards the West. With his visit on this particular day, many believe President Xi Jinping wants to send a message to the military alliance. According to analysts, he wants to point out double standards in the West and NATO's warmongering tone when it comes to Russia. In contrast to China's messages of peace and dialogue. China is like, it's the future. We're oriented towards the future. We may be pushed by the West, we may be pilloried in the UN, we may be sanctioned, but we have friends that are going to be incredibly important in the years to come. Symbolizing what they call their ironclad friendship is the country's largest steel plant in Smederevo. Xi Jinping had promised to rescue the plant and save 5,000 jobs. His promise came at a cost. With this NGO saying air pollution from the plant has caused cancer rates to go up. We have the economical benefits, that's true. But we have a big problem with that political correlation with the Xi Jinping regime because it's an authoritarian regime and with that economic benefits it comes and also authoritarian influence. The minister says a free trade agreement with China will be cancelled as soon as his country becomes part of the EU. But until that happens, if ever, it has found a less demanding friend when it comes to democracy and the rule of law. Stephane Aljazeera in Belgrade.

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