Chinese, Macedonian Presidents Hold Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 28, 2002

Chinese, Macedonian Presidents Hold Talks

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Chinese President Jiang Zemin Saturday expressed appreciation of Macedonia's abiding by principles enshrined in the joint communique on the normalization of relations between the two countries and the memorandum of understanding, and of its keeping away from having any official relations or contact with Taiwan.

Jiang made the remarks while holding talks with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski Saturday in Beijing.

Jiang said that China and Macedonia and both peoples had traditionally been friends, and bilateral relations had developed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties.

There were once ups and downs in Sino-Macedonian relations because of sabotage by the Taiwan authorities, Jiang said, but the Macedonian people had rejected the attempt.

In particular, President Trajkovski had been firmly opposed to establishing so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, and had made positive contribution to the normalization of relations with China, Jiang said.

Jiang said that China and Macedonia had maintained political dialogue and economic cooperation since bilateral relations had normalized, and the relations between the two countries had been well developing.

He stressed that the Chinese government would steadily develop long-term, stable and comprehensive relations with Macedonia on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non- interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence.

Proposal for further relations put forward by Jiang

The Chinese President put forward a three-point proposal to further the bilateral ties, which includes maintaining political dialogue on various levels and strengthening understanding and trust, pushing forward economic and trade relations and implementation of the Chinese government's economic aid program for Macedonia, and enriching the bilateral relations by expanding cooperation of mutual benefit in cultural, educational and scientific fields.

Jiang also said that China understood and supported the efforts of Macedonia in safeguarding state sovereignty, and had as always respected Macedonia's territorial integrity, stability and economic recovery.

Trajkovski said that the joint statement and other documents the two sides would sign during his visit here would promote bilateral cooperation in political and economic fields. They also demonstrated the strong wish of both governments and peoples to enhance bilateral relations, he said.

Trajkovski hoped that the two sides would promote political dialogue as well as cooperation in the economic, scientific and educational fields, and expected China to increase investment in southeast Europe.

He said that normalization of bilateral relations between Macedonia and China was a correct choice which was in the interest of Macedonian people.

He reaffirmed there would be no official relations between his country and Taiwan, saying the Taiwan issue was purely an internal affair of China, and Macedonia understood and supported the Chinese people's desire to safeguard territorial integrity and realize national reunification.

After the talks, the two presidents signed a joint statement between the two countries on consolidating and promoting friendly relations and cooperation.

Officials of relevant departments in both countries also signed other documents on bilateral cooperation in the fields of public health, quarantine, economy and culture.

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