China condemns Nato's Kosovo policy

Li Peng is given a warm welcome at the airport

The chairman of the Chinese National People's Congress, Li Peng has condemned Nato's 1999 air war on Yugoslavia in an address to parliament in Belgrade.

"This war has not only devastated Yugoslavia, but also brought enormous suffering to people of all ethnic groups in Kosovo and beyond," said Mr Li, the most senior foreign official to visit Belgrade since the bombing campaign.

The Nato bombing was fiercely opposed in China

Speaking on the first anniversary of the arrival of Nato-led peacekeepers in Kosovo, he said that the ethnic conflicts in the province remained unresolved.

"This proves that peace is not made out of bombing."

Mr Li who is the second most powerful figure in China, arrived in Belgrade on Sunday for a three-day visit during which it is thought he will hold talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

Spirit of resistance

Mr Li was given a red-carpet welcome on Sunday, when he was met by a Yugoslav army guard of honour.

He later spoke of "a tradition of friendship between Yugoslavia and China."

Speaking at a dinner in his honour on Sunday, Mr Li praised Belgraders for their spirit of resistance during last year's Nato bombings in which the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was mistakenly hit.

Slobodan Milosevic needs Chinese help to rebuild the economy

"Last year, in order to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of your country, you resisted, with indomitable spirit, the barbaric aggression of the biggest military bloc in the world, " Mr Li said.

China has described Mr Li's visit as a goodwill trip. China has long been a strong supporter of Mr Milosevic and his regime, and ties between the two countries were further strengthened following the Nato bombing campaign against Serbia last year.

Close ties

China vehemently denounced the Nato action in Kosovo, declaring it neo-interventionism and an act of aggression against international law.

For China, Nato's actions in Kosovo set a dangerous precedent, as it, like Serbia, has a number of rebellious minorities living on its fringes - in particular in Tibet and in Xinjiang.

There are widespread allegations that the Chinese authorities have used brutal methods against minority groups to suppress calls for autonomy and for independence.

Facing isolation over its role in a series of Balkan wars in the 1990s, Belgrade has turned to China, Russia and other non-Western countries for support and help in rebuilding the country's war-shattered economy.

China and Russia are the only two major world powers to maintain close ties with Yugoslavia.

In 1997, Mr Milosevic and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin signed an agreement on friendship and co-operation.

And in December last year, China was reported to have extended a $300m loan to finance reconstruction of Serbia's economy after the Nato bombing.

Yugoslavia is also close to signing several trade agreements with China.