China supports Serbia in defending its sovereignty on Kosovo issue: Xi Jinping

China supports the Serbian government in its measures to protect the country's territorial integrity on the Kosovo issue, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a joint press conference with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic after signing joint documents, TASS reports.

 

"China supports Serbia in safeguarding its independence as well as following the development path that suits its national interests. China also supports Serbia's efforts to safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Kosovo issue," Xi said.

 

Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Serbia on May 7-8. He began his visit to the republic on the 25th anniversary of the NATO Air Force’s bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. On May 7, 1999, North Atlantic Alliance aircraft struck the Chinese embassy building in Belgrade during a military operation against Yugoslavia.

 

Earlier, the Serbian leader stressed that Belgrade has fully realized that the United States and the European Union will continue to stand idly by as regards the aggressive policy of the Kosovo authorities towards the Serbian population. In this regard, according to Vucic, Serbia will be forced to change its approach to the Kosovo issue.