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Chairman Li Visits Ruins of Embassy in Belgrade
China's top legislator Li Peng Tuesday led a National People's Congress (NPC) delegation on a visit to the ruined Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia destroyed in last year's NATO bombing.
The attack on the embassy was a barbaric act of NATO, said Li, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
On May 8, 1999, NATO bombed the embassy, killing three Chinese journalists Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu and Zhu Ying and seriously damaging the building.
The attack sparked strong anti-US protests in China and strained Sino-US relations.
The Chinese Ambassador to Yugoslavia Pan Zhanlin, who survived the attack, told Li and the delegation about the events on the day of the bombing.
The ruined building, with shattered windows, broken walls and debris, remain one year after the attack.
Li laid wreath in front of the embassy. The five-star national flag of the People's Republic of China still flies over the building.
In the aftermath of the bombing, China demanded that NATO accept responsibility for the attack, officially apologize to the Chinese people and government and compensate the families of the victims. It also called for a comprehensive investigation of the incident with findings to be made public and that those responsible be punished.
China has refused to accept the US explanation that the bombing was a mistake based on inaccurate intelligence.
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