China, Albania celebrate 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties
TIRANA, Oct 29 – Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang led a big delegation of businessmen in a two-day visit to Albania to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties.
Dejiang met Thursday with his Albanian counterpart and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta. He was also to meet with all the other top Albanian officials, including President Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli.
Discussing bilateral relations will be at the center of the talks.
The big group of Chinese businessmen accompanying Dejiang will have many meetings with their Albanian counterparts in an effort to increase partnership and economic exchange.
China and Albania have been old friends since the times when the tiny Balkan country was under a communist regime.
After breaking ties with former Soviet Union, China became Tirana’s main big partner supporting the development of its economy, army and other support.
The close political ties continued until 1978. The then-hard-line Albanian communist leadership did not accept to follow Beijing line of closer ties with United States and Soviet Union.
Following the break Albania suffered without the financial support from the Asian big partner. Its economy was ruined unable to secure the proper funding and technology.
After the fall of communism in late 1990 Tirana and Beijing resumed ties mainly with the presence of Chinese businessmen.
China has made or offered some big investment, mainly in the field of energy, and it remains one of the main trade partners for the local businesses.
Relations were frozen for a brief period three years ago when Tirana accepted five Chinese Muslims, or Uighurs released from the United States notorious Guantanamo base. They remain in Albania but Tirana has been afraid to accept more of them fearing repercussions from China.
Tirana wishes stronger ties with the powerful Asian economy and an increased cooperation especially in economy.
