Chinese, Montenegrin officials call for more cooperation

Visiting senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Li Changchun met here Friday with Montenegrin Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists Milo Djukanovic, calling for more cooperation.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, spoke highly of the great achievements that Montenegro had made in maintaining social stability, vigorously developing its economy and improving people's livelihood.

He said, despite geographical distance and difference in national conditions, the people of the two countries had a profound and traditional friendship.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2006, bilateral relations had made great strides, Li said.

He expressed appreciation for Montenegro's adherence to the one-China policy. He also expressed China's gratitude for the condolences and aid provided by the Montenegrin government following the massive earthquakes in China's Sichuan province in 2008.

China regarded Montenegro as a sincere friend and a trusted partner in the Balkan region, Li said.

He said China is willing to join with Montenegro to inherit and carry forward their traditional friendship, and elevate the relationship to a higher level under the new circumstances.

Li laid out a three-point proposal for boosting bilateral relations.

He said China wants to maintain high-level contacts, enhance political mutual trust and consolidate the political foundation in bilateral relations.

Second, he proposed deeper trade cooperation and promoting the balanced development of trade.

Third, the countries should build close links in people-to-people exchanges, encourage nongovernmental organizations and local authorities to boost communication and cooperation in various forms and consolidate the people-to-people foundation in bilateral relations.

Li said both ruling parties, the CPC and Democratic Party of Socialists, shouldered the responsibilities in leading the country, administering the society, developing the economy and benefiting the people.

He said he hopes the two parties could keep a close relationship, reinforce experience-sharing in governing philosophy and development of their parties, and deepen the contacts among young politicians of the two countries, with a view to making a contribution to an all-around development of the bilateral relations.

Djukanovic said the good political and economic relationship between the two countries, forged on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual understanding and the support for each other on their core benefits, had great prospects for further development.

He expressed sincere gratitude for the support that China had given to Montenegro.

Montenegro would like to enhance the mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields including culture, education, tourism, energy, infrastructure, port transportation, and continuously explore new fields and new modes for cooperation in order to inject new power to their traditional friendship, the prime minister said.

After their meeting, Li and Djukanovic attended a signing ceremony for a number of bilateral agreements covering economic and technology cooperation.

Li arrived in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica on Thursday for a four-day official goodwill visit to the country after a tour of the Baltic Sea country of Estonia.

Montenegro is the second leg of Li's four-nation trip that will also take him to Ireland and Iran.

Source: Xinhua