Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made a two-day visit to Albania to talk with all top Albanian officials on how to increase the bilateral ties, which they both considered as excellent. Tirana and Beijing pledged to further increase ties in economy
TIRANA, Aug. 4 – Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made a two-day visit to Albania to talk with all top Albanian officials on how to increase the bilateral ties, which they both considered as excellent.
Jiechi met first with his Albanian counterpart Edmond Haxhinasto to continue Thursday with meetings of President Bamir Topi, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli and Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
Haxhinasto considered bilateral ties as strategic and spoke about excellent relations with the big world power, once a very close ally of the then-communist Albania.
Following the break-up with the then-Soviet Union in 1961 Tirana set very close ties with Beijing, which broke up in 1978 due to the political divergences.
Both governments confirmed their will to further extend their cooperation and deepen it, especially in the economic and commercial exchange.
China is Albania’s third economic exchange partner.
Albanian officials also tried to urge more Chinese investment in the country.
Tirana and Beijing signed the Agreement on Strategic Partnership, and also another one on tourism which was considered as another “solid basis of our ties and an expression of the joint political will,” according to Haxhinasto.
Albania said they would be interested in a more close relation with China in the energy field, the industry of mines and tourism, creating free zones of industrial parks, infrastructure, natural resources, and so on.
Both countries’ experts will hold a meeting of the Bilateral Economic Commission to talk in detail, to find the mechanism to heighten the collaboration.
Tirana also urged Beijing to recognize Kosovo, taking into consideration its big role play in the international arena, and stressing that would be another step for the regional peace and stability.
Albania also thanked China for its continuous assistance and grants and said they had identified the targets for the future cooperation.
“I would like to tell to the Albanian people that the Chinese people have the same friendly feelings to the Albanian people,” said Jiechi, adding they paid much importance to friendly ties with Albania in “a new century, new circumstances.”
Jiechi said they had agreed “to preserve the high level of exchange between our two countries” and shared the same opinion with his Albanian counterpart on the areas of future cooperation.
Jiechi also said his government would urge Chinese business to come and invest in Albania in infrastructure, human resources, energy and other fields.
The two foreign ministries agreed to increase cooperation in culture, education and tourism areas too.
Jiechi also said they supported Albania’s steps toward integration into the European Union and its positive role in the international issues and preserving peace and stability in the region.
The two governments also said they would make new steps to lift the visas for their citizens.
