Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met with Macedonian President
Branko Crvenkovski in Beijing on Thursday, pledging to further
strengthen bilateral parliamentary exchanges.
Considering Macedonia as an important cooperative partner in
southeast Europe, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC), told Crvenkovski China is ready
to join hands with the country to further enhance political trust,
and facilitate bilateral win-win cooperation in trade, culture,
technology and other areas.
The Chinese NPC values its relations with the Macedonian
parliament, Wu said, expressing his hope to enhance parliamentary
dialogues and cooperation at various levels and between special
committees, share experience in building democratic legal system in
a bid to further cement bilateral ties.
Appreciating China's "important" and "positive" role in
international affairs, Crvenkovski said his government highly
treasures its relations with China, and will firmly stick to the
one-China policy and support its peaceful reunification cause.
He added Macedonia hopes to enhance all-round exchanges and
cooperation with China including parliamentary exchanges.
Later Thursday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Crvenkovski,
and both sides agreed to facilitate trade cooperation.
Wen applauded the joint statement signed by President Hu Jintao
and Crvenkovski Wednesday on deepening mutually beneficial
cooperative relations, regarding it as a new milestone in the
development of bilateral ties.
With regard to trade relations, Wen said China attaches
importance to its trade cooperation with Macedonia, encouraging
local enterprises to explore cooperation opportunities and expand
cooperation.
Crvenkovski also encouraged more Chinese companies to invest in
Macedonia.
The Macedonian president arrived in Beijing Tuesday as Hu's
guest. He will also visit Shanghai and Guangzhou during his stay in
China.
(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2007)
