Interview with the Chinese Ambassador by Tirana Times
Q1: The year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of Sino-Albanian relations. How do you view our history of relations and how do you view current relations in light of the significant changes in both countries?
A: Even though China and Albania are distant from each other, the friendship between our two peoples has been passed on from generation to generation. Albania was one of the first countries that recognized the People’s Republic of China. Our two countries established diplomatic relations on November 23rd, 1949. Since then, we have witnessed fast development of exchanges and cooperation in all fields between our two countries. China rendered a great amount of assistance to Albania. We sent nearly 6000 experts to Albania and trained a large number of economic and technical experts for Albania. Albania also gave China precious support and made important contribution to the restoration of the legitimate rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations, which the Chinese people will never forget.
In recent years, upon the joint efforts of the two governments and peoples, the Sino-Albanian bilateral relations experienced stable development. High level visits between the two sides were frequent. We saw Albanian Presidents, Prime Ministers and Parliament Speakers visiting China, and Chinese Vice-Premier, State Councillor and Foreign Minister visiting Albania. In order to express the friendly affection of the Chinese people toward the Albanian people, the Chinese government rendered some certain amount of grants to Albania without any political condition. The trade volume between our two countries also increases year by year. China has become the third largest source of import for Albania. Besides, our two countries have smooth cooperation in such fields as culture, education, science and technology, agriculture, sports, radio and television as well as on multilateral occasions. We are fully confident of the development of the Sino-Albanian relations.
Q2: During their meeting in April this year, President Hu Jintao and Premier Berisha expressed their political will to improve Sino-Albanian relations and take them to a new stage.
What are the guiding principles and common interests of Sino-Albanian relations 60 years on?
A: Albanian Prime Minister Mr. Sali Berisha’s official and friendly visit to China last April was an important visit. During the visit, Mr. Prime Minister had meetings and talks with Chinese President Mr. HU Jintao, Premier of the State council Mr. WEN Jiabao and other Chinese leaders. The two sides published a Joint Statement on deepening traditional friendly relations and also signed documents on cultural and public health cooperation. As one of the most important guiding documents for Sino-Albanian bilateral relations, the Joint Statement elaborates the fundamental principles of our bilateral relations, including the political basis, the direction of development and areas of cooperation. The core of the principles is mutual respect, equality and reciprocity, cooperation and mutual benefit. I think it goes in line with the common desire and fundamental interests of our two peoples to continuously deepen the traditional friendship and push ahead our cooperation of mutual benefit in all fields. In this context, Vice Premier of the State Council of China Mr. ZHANG Dejiang’s recent visit to Albania was also of great significance. We’re willing to achieve the above-mentioned goal based upon the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Q3: How and in what areas can our relations be enhanced?
A: The past 60 years of the Sino-Albanian relations have given us some important and deep revelations: only through mutual trust and sincerity can we enhance the bilateral political relations; only upon mutual respect, equality and reciprocity can we achieve common development and prosperity through our cooperation; only by seeking common ground while reserving differences and by friendly negotiation can we guarantee the long-term, healthy and stable development of the bilateral relations.
Currently, based on the joint effort of the two governments and peoples, the exchanges and cooperation between our two countries have been strengthening. We’re willing to take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of Sino-Albanian diplomatic ties to increase exchanges at all levels and further enhance our pragmatic cooperation in the areas of politics, economy and trade, culture, education and justice, etc.
Q4: A very significant number of Albanian firms conduct business with China – what is being done to facilitate their work and that of other potential entrepreneurs? What is being done to encourage and facilitate Chinese investments in Albania?
A: In recent years, more and more Albanian companies are engaging in business and trade with China. The economic cooperation and trade between our two countries has been increasing, but still has great potential. According to Albanian statistics, the bilateral trade volume of year 2008 increased by 29.7% and has reached 424 million USD. China has become one of the major trade partners of Albania.
The Chinese Government always attaches great importance to the development of the Sino-Albanian economic cooperation and trade exchanges, and welcomes Albanian companies to carry out business and trade with China, for which the relevant Chinese ministries and departments and the Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s Office of the Chinese Embassy is ready to offer facilitation. Albanian companies that have interest to carry out business or trade with China may contact the Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s Office or log on to its website to obtain or publish business and exhibition information.
At the same time, the Chinese Government also encourages Chinese companies and businesses to invest in Albania. The Ministry of Commerce of China publishes an overseas investment guidebook every year, which introduces economic development and investment opportunities to Chinese firms. The Chinese Government gives special support on tax, customs, loan and insurance for some important investment projects. Besides, we also take the opportunities of the Mixed Committee on Economy and Trade as well as high-level visits to bring Chinese business delegations to study the Albanian market.
Q5: Sino-Albanian relations have, in the past, seen significant intensity in education and culture too. Even nowadays, old Albanian movies are sometimes shown in some Chinese cinemas. Where do our cultural relations stand at now? Are there any efforts to continue this legacy?
A: Both Albania and China are countries with long history and unique cultures. Currently, the two countries have good exchanges and cooperation on culture and art, but the space for further improvement also exists. During Prime Minister Mr. Berisha’s visit last April, the ministries of culture of our two countries signed a program on cultural cooperation for the coming three years. According to this program, both sides will exchange cultural delegations, organize weeks of culture, weeks of films, and strengthen the cooperation between respective national libraries and national institutes for the protection of cultural heritages. In the field of education, a new program on educational cooperation has been signed during the recent visit by Vice Premier Mr. ZHANG Dejiang. The two countries exchange university students with government scholarships every year. This academic year, Tirana University has opened a Chinese language course for the first time. Other universities and educational institutes have also strong interests in opening similar courses. We hope to work with the Albanian side in order to further develop and deepen our cooperation on culture and education.
Q6: What is China’s economic policy towards the region in light of future prospects of a common market as the process of EU integration moves forward?
A: China always attaches great importance to developing comprehensive relations including political, economic and cultural relations with all the countries in the region. In recent years, the economic and trade cooperation between China and regional countries has become more and more diversified. From mainly relying on import and export, the bilateral economic relations between China and regional countries now include trade, investment and even production cooperation. As the regional countries move closer to EU and the regional economic cooperation keeps growing, the economic and trade cooperation between China and regional countries also holds huge potential. China is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with regional countries in order to achieve common development and prosperity.
Q7: China’s decisive role in global affairs is also evident by its position in the United Nations Security Council. China is one of only five countries in the world to enjoy veto power in the Security Council, a global instrument that has recently been very significant for the Balkans. What are China’s guiding principles in using its power in the UNSC and its position/policy towards the region?
A: The UN Security Council is endowed with the primary responsibility of maintaining the peace and security of the world. As a permanent member of UNSC, China is committed to maintaining the authority and role of UNSC, to facilitating the solution of hot regional issues through coordination, dialogue and negotiation, to supporting the UN and its Secretary General to carry out preventative diplomacy such as mediation and conciliation. China keeps close consultation and coordination with the other four permanent members of the UNSC, and has played a constructive role and made important contribution to the solution of a series of issues.
Meanwhile, China supports the UNSC to carry out necessary and reasonable reform in order to strengthen its authority and efficiency and enhance the representation of developing countries. The reform of UNSC is of great influence affecting the interests of all sides. Therefore, we should try to reduce the divergences through broad and democratic discussion in order to achieve consensus and to find ideas and approaches that could be accepted by all sides.
For the Balkan region, peace and development have become the common basic national policies of regional countries. We hope that regional countries, in consideration of the long term interest of country and national development, could find proper solutions to problems left over by history through patient dialogue and build a stable and prosperous Balkan. China highly cherishes its traditional friendship with regional countries. We will continue to promote impartially the friendly and cooperative relations as well as traditional friendship with regional countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and we will continue to be committed to the peace process of the Western Balkans.
Q8: China is an ever-growing power in the world and its stance is consequential on many global issues, be them economic, political, military, environmental etc. Its actions in the global arena as well as domestically are carefully observed. Many scholars, however, have concluded that even though it enjoys all the characteristics and conditions to be a great power, China does not seem to wish to be so. It seems as if though China often chooses not to act upon its power. What is your reaction to this analysis?
A: Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 60 years ago and its reform and opening-up 30 years ago, China has achieved tremendous success in developing its economy, improving people’s livelihood and enhancing China’s capacity and international status. Currently, China’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP) ranks third in the world. China’s speedy economic growth is also making important contribution to the recovery and development of the world economy. But at the same time, China is still the largest developing country in the world, with a huge population, a relatively feeble basis and imbalanced development in different areas. For international affairs, China defines its own position and policies in accordance to the internal logic of different issues and on the basis of the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the common interests of people of the world and takes on relevant responsibilities that comply with China’s actual capability.
China actively participates in the efforts made by the international society on global issues including financial crisis, climate change, food security, energy security, public health security, terrorism and nuclear proliferation. China supports increasing assistance to African countries, reducing or cancelling the debts for heavily indebted poor countries. China actively promotes proper solutions to international and regional issues such as the North Korea nuclear issue, Iranian nuclear issue and the Middle East issue. China actively participates in international peace-keeping missions by sending more than 20000 peace keepers abroad, the most sent by the permanent members of the UNSC. All these clearly show that China is a responsible country and has made great contribution to the peace, stability and development of the world.
