China will build a new embassy in Belgrade to replace the one destroyed by a cruise missile during NATO's 1999 bombing campaign, Serbian authorities said Friday.

The missile strike killed three Chinese and strained relations between Washington and Beijing, which claimed the attack was carried out on purpose.

The deal to build the new embassy in the plush Belgrade suburb of Dedinje was signed Friday by Serbian and Chinese officials, the Beta news agency reported.

The bombed embassy building was located in New Belgrade, a residential area of the capital.

Source: China Daily/agencies