On June 18, 2001, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva signed on behalf of their respective Governments a joint communiqué and decided to normalize the relations between the two countries as of  today, marking an important juncture in the annals of relations between China and Macedonia.

China and Macedonia enjoy traditional friendship and cooperative relations.  The bilateral relations had been developing smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1993.  Yet because of the sabotage by Taiwan authorities, China-Macedonia relations experienced twists and turns since 1999.  Practice in the past two years and more proves that the fundamental and long-turn interests of the two countries and peoples have subsequently been damaged.  Both the Chinese and Macedonian people keenly desire that the bilateral relations come back to the right path as soon as possible.  The normalization of China-Macedonia ties will become a new starting point for the development of relations between the two countries.  We are convinced that on the basis of the Joint Communiqué on the Normalization of Relations, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Macedonia will undoubtedly witness a quick and comprehensive restoration and development and the international cooperation between the two countries will be further strengthened.

The fact that China and Macedonia have normalized their relations once again shows that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are inseparable, the principled one-China position of the Chinese Government enjoys the understanding and support of the overwhelming majority of countries and the international community, and all attempts and moves to split China are futile.