Premier Zhu Rongji said yesterday in Beijing that China will work with Macedonia to create a "beautiful future" for bilateral relations.
Zhu told Ilinka Mitreva, foreign minister of Macedonia, during a meeting yesterday that China will establish the new co-operative effort " as soon as possible" under guiding principles from the joint communique that normalizes bilateral relations.
Mitreva and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan signed the joint communique on Monday, announcing the normalization of relations between the two countries effective on the same day.
Zhu said that the normalization of relations between China and Macedonia is an "inevitable trend" and the "general feeling" of the people.
The Chinese side appreciates Macedonia's political decision because it conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people, Zhu said.
The Chinese premier said economic co-operation between China and Macedonia will offer new opportunities after the normalization of relations. He told the Macedonian foreign minister that China will send an economic and trade delegation to Macedonia "as early as possible" in order to contact local entrepreneurs and explore the possibility of co-operation.
China also welcomes Macedonian businessmen to come to China for co-operation, he added.
Zhu also expounded on China's stance on the Balkan issue. He stressed that China has never and will never seek private gains in the Balkan region. China insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region be respected and that the rights of all ethnic groups in the region be equally guaranteed.
"We hope that all countries and ethnic groups in the region take the long-term interest of the development of their nations and ethnic groups into consideration, properly resolve their disputes through dialogue, and achieve ethnic reconciliation and co-operation in the entire region," Zhu said.
Mitreva said the signing of the relations normalization document was an important moment in bilateral relations and has opened broad prospects for co-operation between the two sides.
(Xinhua News Agency 06/20/2001)
