China, Albania vow to deepen traditional friendship

TIRANA, April 27 – China and Albania issued a joint statement last week after the end of Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s visit to the Asian country.
Both countries said they would boost their traditional friendship and bilateral cooperation in all fields.
The statement was issued after official talks between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Albanian counterpart Sali Berisha in the Great Hall of the People. Berisha held a five-day trip to China last week.
The two countries vowed to increase mutual investment, encourage more business contacts and promote a balanced development of trade ties, the statement said.
China would support its competitive companies to invest in Albania and participate in the country’s infrastructure construction, energy and mine exploitation, it said. Albania said it appreciated China’s aid for its economic development.
They would expand cooperation in tourism, agriculture, public health, technology, culture and education, and encourage more exchanges among their local governments and non-governmental groups.
Albania reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy.
In the face of the global financial crisis, the two countries called on the international community to enhance cooperation of financial supervision, fight trade protectionism and reduce the damage of the crisis to developing countries.
Both sides applauded their remarkable cooperation in various areas, and agreed to hold activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties, the statement said.