Xinhua News Agency, Belgrade, May 8. Feature: In front of the two monuments, it is now full of flowers
Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Zhongyu
In front of the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, two monuments were erected to commemorate the three Chinese journalists who died in the 1999 NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
23 years later, on May 7, the two monuments were filled with flowers in memory of the three martyrs.
Serbian government officials, staff of the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, representatives from Chinese media, the Serbian Journalists Association, Chinese-funded enterprises and Serbian non-governmental organizations, as well as overseas Chinese and local people, a total of hundreds of people laid wreaths and flowers at the monument and observed a moment of silence. Pay tribute to the martyrs and condemn NATO atrocities.
In the crowd laying flowers, Serbian former army colonel Parezhanin stood out.
The 83-year-old soldier held a banner with photos of the three martyrs on the same day, laid flowers at the monument and stood in the crowd until the end of the event.
"We are deeply impressed by the day (NATO bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia) and will never forget it," Parezanin told Xinhua in an interview. "We come here every year to express our sincere respect to the Chinese people."
Parezanin said three Chinese friends were killed "in the bombing of the aggressors" and "for us, the US and NATO aggression caused irreparable damage".
On May 7, 1999, the US-led NATO bombed the Chinese embassy in the Yugoslavia, causing Xinhua reporter Shao Yunhuan, "Guangming Daily" reporters Xu Xinghu and Zhu Ying who were working in the embassy to die unfortunately, and injured dozens of people at the same time. The embassy premises were severely damaged.
Ten years later, on May 7, 2009, the Belgrade city government erected a monument in front of the former embassy site to commemorate the Chinese martyrs who died in the NATO bombing and thank China for its valuable support during Serbia's most difficult period.
Belgrade Deputy Mayor Mladenovic said that three Chinese martyrs and thousands of Yugoslav civilians have become victims of NATO's aggression, and civilian buildings have become the targets of bombing, which highlights the true colors and real goals of the aggressors.
"Our message to the world is that a tragedy like this must never be repeated."
Like Parezanin, Brajovic, Secretary-General of the Serbian Journalists Association, attended the mourning activities at the former site of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia for many years.
On behalf of the Serbian Journalists Association, Blajovic paid tribute to the three Chinese martyrs who died.
He said that since he first laid flowers at the monument in 2010, he has found more and more people participating in the mourning activities. "People really put the three martyrs in their hearts."
On June 17, 2016, the Chinese government erected a monument on the former site of the embassy.
On the monument is engraved in Chinese, Serbian and English, "In memory of the martyrs who cherish peace and I would like to commemorate the martyrs Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu and Zhu Ying who died in the NATO bombing of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia".
Today, at the site of the bombed embassy, the first Chinese Cultural Center in the Western Balkans has been erected. The two monuments erected in front of the Chinese Cultural Center are surrounded by countless flowers.