Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji met Tuesday with visiting Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Kerstevski.
Zhu said China and Macedonia have a traditional friendship and maintaining friendly relations and expanding cooperation are in the best interests of both countries.
On the basis of the joint communique of normalization of the two countries' diplomatic relationship, the Chinese government wishes to push forward bilateral relations in the future, Zhu said.
It is of great importance to China to develop trade and economic relations with Macedonia and China encourages its businesses to cooperate with their Macedonian counterparts, Zhu said.
He also said that China supports Macedonia's efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China hopes the peace process in Macedonia will be further promoted and Macedonia will have stability, ethnic harmony and economic development as soon as possible, Zhu said.
Kerstevski said that China has influence in the world and plays an even greater role in international politics and economics.
Macedonia is willing to expand and promote cooperation with China in various areas, he said.
He repeated that Macedonia would keep to the "one China" policy on the Taiwan issue and hopes that China will be reunified as soon as possible.
He also expressed his gratitude to China, as a member of the Security Council of the United Nations, for its contribution to helping Macedonia restore social stability and economic prosperity.
( December 11, 2001)
