TIRANA, Feb. 27 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) will launch a new cooperation with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) on the future of Albania and China through the One Belt One Road and 16+1 initiatives proposed by the Chinese government.
Representatives headed by AIIS’ Chairman Albert Rakipi and SIIS Chairman of Academic Affairs Council Yang Jiemian met this week at the AIIS headquarters in Tirana to discuss the new age China-Albania relations have entered and their implications.
China and Albania agreed to enhance cooperation of infrastructure, production capacity, tourism and agriculture under the two initiatives last April, when Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli visited Albania.
Due to Albania’s geographic advantage in South East Europe, Gaoli then said the country could have a major role in the Belt and Road and called on both countries to speed up negotiations and signing an intergovernmental MOU, Chinese media reported.
Presently, AIIS and SIIS discussed on how to build on this cooperation through informing the respective populations of Albania and China, holding a joint conference and doing research on the topics, as well as fostering cultural exchange between the two countries.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), proposed in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network along the ancient Silk Road trading routes, connecting Asia with Europe and Africa.
The BRI is estimated to cover over 68 countries upon completion, equaling 65% of the world’s population.
The 16+1 initiative is also an agreement of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) aiming to strengthen ties on economy and trade, science, education, technology, as well as enhance cooperation on e-commerce, for the benefit of their populations.
The last meeting between China and CEEC was held last November in Budapest, Hungary.
China and Albania have traditionally had peaceful relations, but in the last years China has increasingly been present in the entire region, particularly through economic investments.
In an interview with Tirana Times last year, Chinese Ambassador to Tirana Jiang Yu said “China is committed to developing friendly relations of cooperation with all countries, including Albania, on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. We always maintain that all countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, are equal members of the international community.”
