China has hailed the United Nations resolution on Kosovo as a victory for its position of opposing the war from the start.

A front-page commentary in the official People's Daily highlighted what it called China's positive role in promoting a political solution.

The paper said Chinese demands for a return to UN channels had won it respect around the world. Its pressure had forced Nato countries to accept an amendment to the resolution which stressed the role of the UN in the peace plan.

China's official news agency said this had foiled Nato's attempts to get a green light for what it called further unilateral use of force around the world. There was no mention of other Chinese proposals which were not taken up.

Beijing's opposition to the Nato campaign, and the anger unleashed by the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, made it unthinkable for the UN resolution to be presented as a victory for Nato.

China abstained from the Security Council vote on the the peace plan. The People's Daily said China did not want to prevent peace in Yugoslavia, but still had serious reservations.

Diplomatic role

The Chinese media also highlighted recent visits by German and EU envoys to Beijing to discuss Kosovo.

The People's Daily argued that the US had failed in what it called a plot to make Kosovo independent and to weaken the international status of Russia, with which China has good relations.

The paper suggested that European countries now felt tricked by the US into a conflict which had caused major economic and environmental damage as well as what it called the worst humanitarian disaster in Europe since World War II.