Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan paid an official visit to Albania from Dec. 4 to 5, 2000.

During the visit, Albanian President Meidani, Prime Minister Meta and Speaker of the People’s Assembly Gjinushi met with him respectively. Tang conveyed the cordial greetings from President Jiang Zemin, Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of NPC and Premier Zhu Rongji to them.

When meeting with President Meidani, Tang said that China-Albania relations have developed very well, adding that bilateral contacts and cooperation have become more dynamic than ever and the two countries have same or similar views on many major international issues. He noted that China stands ready to further promote its relations with Albania in the new century in the spirits of seeking common ground while reserving differences and in spite of differences in social system, ideology and value system.

Tang hailed Meidani’s visit to China last December as a great success and said that the visit helped to push the bilateral relationship featuring friendliness, equality and mutual benefit to a new high.

Meidani spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations following his visit to China and he also positively appraised the progress that has been made in some of the cooperation projects between the two countries. He was convinced that Tang’s visit will further promote bilateral cooperation in all fields.

He also voiced the hope that the two countries can step up high-level visits and enhance contacts and exchanges between the entrepreneurs of the two countries and in the fields of culture and technology. He added that Albania is particularly interested in expanding economic and trade cooperation with China. He thanked China for its assistance to Albania in its economic development.

Tang conveyed a letter from Chairman Li Peng to Speaker Gjinushi, in which Li invited Gjinushi to visit China next year. They said that the contacts and exchanges between the NPC of China and the People’s Assembly of Albania should be intensified so as to further promote the in-depth development of bilateral cooperation in all fields.
 
When meeting with Prime Minister Meta, the two sides exchanged views on how to promote the all-round and in-depth development of China-Albania relations in the new century.

Tang also held talks with Albanian Foreign Minister Milo.

Milo expressed satisfaction over the progress that has been made in Albania-China relations in recent years, adding that bilateral relationship is at its historically best period. Agreeing with his appraisal, Tang noted that the traditional friendship between the two friendly countries has remained unchanged in spite of the changes that have taken place in both countries and in the world at large since the two countries established diplomatic ties more than half a century ago. He added that the Chinese government and people will never forget that Albania made contributions in expelling Taiwan from the United Nations and helping China restore its legitimate seat in UN. He noted that the Chinese government and people values the friendship with Albania and stands ready to further consolidate and develop the friendly relations and cooperation with Albania in politics, economy, culture, education and others on the basis of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, equality and mutual benefit. He was convinced that China-Albania relations enjoy bright prospects.

Tang went on to say that China is willing to conduct economic and trade cooperation with Albania in even more fields in accordance with the principles of market economy and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. He believed that with the constant deepening of China’s reform and opening-up and the improvement of Albania’s domestic economic situation, the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries will enjoy great opportunities and broad prospects for further development.

Milo said that Albania stands ready to intensify its cooperation with China in all fields, in the field of economy and trade, in particular. He also welcomed more investment from and greater cooperation with China.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

During Tang’s meeting with Albanian leaders and talks with Albanian Foreign Minister, the Albanian side reiterated its adherence to the One China policy.

President Madani said that Albania supports the Chinese government in resolving the question of Taiwan using “One Country, Two Systems” and supports the measures that the Chinese government has taken on this question.

Foreign Minister Milo reaffirmed that Albania supports the principled position of the Chinese government on the question of Taiwan and will not establish official ties or conduct official contacts with Taiwan in any form. He said that the position of Albania on this question is unshakable and will remain unchanged.

Tang expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Albanian government for its principled One China policy.

During the visit, the two sides also issued the Joint Communique between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Albania.

Dec. 6, 2000