Chinese delegation’s visit increases ties with Tirana

TIRANA, Sep 1 – A delegation of the Chinese Communist Party visited Tirana to meet with all top officials and the main opposition Socialist Party leader.
The Chinese officials met with Prime Minister Sali Berisha and President Bamir Topi to talk about the improvement of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Kosovo was another topic, which dominated their discussions.
Albanian officials, including Edi Rama of the Socialists, asked the Chinese delegation, whose country is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, that Beijing should recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
During the meetings senior Chinese party official Liu Yunshan vowed to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China and Albania enjoy a traditional friendship and have a solid foundation to further relations between the two countries.
Liu, also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said friendship between the two peoples has weathered great changes in both countries and the world since China and Albania established diplomatic ties more than 60 years ago.
Liu said China is willing to deepen the countries’ cooperation in politics, economy and trade, and to broaden exchanges in the fields of press, publications and culture, so as to deepen and widen the relations between the two countries.
The Albanian officials hoped to work with China to explore new areas for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries and inject new energy into the development of bilateral relations.
Topi and Berisha called on Beijing to not only recognize Kosovo’s independence state, but to use its influence on the UN Security Council to back recognition from other members.
“President Topi stressed the need for the expansion of the geographic map of countries that have recognized Kosovo, where China can play a constructive and determinant role for the future,” said a statement from Topi press office.
“Kosovo’s independence serves peace and stability in the region,” said Berisha.