AIIS representatives said they plan to conduct joint projects with the Chinese institute focusing on political and economic relations between the two countries during the past 20 years of Albania’s transition into democracy
TIRANA, April 22 – Two leading think tanks from Albania and China, the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) and the China Center for Contemporary World Studies (CCCWS) have agreed to step up cooperation and engage in joint projects to research into bilateral relations which date back since the late 1940s.
At the invitation of the AIIS, a delegation from China headed by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Vice Minister and CCCWS President Yu Hongjun visited Albania last week discussing cooperation possibilities with the AIIS and exchanging views on Albania’s transition and strengthening bilateral Albania-China relations.
AIIS representatives said they plan to carry out joint projects with the Chinese institute focusing on political and economic relations between the two countries during the past 20 years of Albania’s transition into democracy. The projects will provide a critical approach on current challenges and opportunities to further boost political and economic relations with China, the world’s most powerful emerging market and second largest economy.
Both institutes also plan to conduct research on security and economic crisis issues in Albania and the Balkans where some of the best experts will be engaged. Researchers from both institutes are expected to exchange experience in Tirana and Beijing international conferences organized by both institutes.
“There is an early tradition of cooperation between the two countries despite the ideological context and this tradition must be kept on first of all by state institutions, but also by civil society organizations and the business community to further strengthen relations with China which is an economic giant and an important international stakeholder,” says AIIS Executive Director Albert Rakipi.
Accompanied by the AIIS representatives, the Chinese delegation of six members also had a meeting with Foreign Minister Aldo Bumci who appreciated the level of bilateral political dialogue and the role of the People’s Republic of China in supporting Albania. He expressed his willingness to further expand bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Mr. Yu made a positive assessment on the cooperation and relations between the two countries and expressed his interest in Albania’s integration processes and the most important developments in the region, said the Foreign Ministry.
This is not the first time the AIIS has cooperated with Chinese research institutes. Back in October 2010 China’s Euro-Asian Social Development Research Institute’s first visited Albania at the invitation of AIIS to discuss current relations and find new ways to boost economic and cultural cooperation.
The China Center for Contemporary World Studies delegation was headed by Mr. Hongjun Yu, the president of CCCWS, and also included Mr. Hao HU, Vice President of CCCWS, Mr. Zhiren Zhang, Member of Standing Committee of CPC (Communist Party of China), Mr. Changsheng Jia, Head of Foreign Office of Jin Cheng Muncipality of Shan Xi Province; Mr. Yang Gao, assistant to President Yu; Mr. Dong Wang, specialist at CCCWS.
Once Albania’s main ally under communism until the late 1970s, China is today one of Albania’s main trade partners especially for imports.
In May 2012, an Albania-China economic forum opened the 5th edition of the international technology and investment trade fair in Tirana. Representatives of more than 100 Chinese companies operating in energy, chemical, food and mechanical industries, telecommunications, transport, machinery and technology participated in the fair mulling over possible investments in Albania which will increase their presence also in South-East European markets.
Established in 1997, the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) is a non-governmental, non-profit research and policy institute created in recognition of the need for independent, in-depth analysis of the complex issues surrounding Albania’s security. Having carved out a niche in the policy-making environment, AIIS has become an important partner in Albania’s road to democratization and market economy.
China Center for Contemporary World Studies (CCCWS) was founded in 2010. Its main fields of research include international situation, political party politics, political system in foreign countries, China’s foreign strategies, socialist theories, social and political trends of thoughts and comparative studies in development modes. It actively conducts exchanges and academic discussions with foreign political party think tanks and research institutes.
