Wang Yi said China encourages Chinese enterprises to actively participate in Montenegro's infrastructure development and is ready to expand cooperation with Montenegro in tourism, energy, green transition and other areas.
PODGORICA, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Sunday that China is ready to expand practical cooperation and elevate ties with Montenegro to a higher level.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.
Wang said China and Montenegro are good friends despite the geographical distance. China was among the first countries to recognize Montenegro's independence and establish diplomatic relations with it, demonstrating China's respect for Montenegro and the importance it attaches to bilateral ties, he added.
Over the past 20 years, China-Montenegro relations have maintained sound and steady development, bringing benefits to both peoples and setting an example of win-win cooperation between countries with different sizes, national conditions and social systems, Wang said.
Wang said both countries share a history of anti-fascism and a national spirit of resilience and defiance in the face of aggression, noting that China is helping restore the Tara River Bridge featured in the famous Yugoslav film "The Bridge," which he believes will also connect the hearts of the two peoples.
Wang said China is ready to take the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to review the success of bilateral cooperation, elevate bilateral ties to a higher level on that basis, and explore an even better future for both countries over the next 20 years.
Wang said China supports Montenegro's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, supports the path of development and revitalization chosen by the Montenegrin people, and supports Montenegro in playing an active role in international affairs.
China has both the willingness and the capability to help Montenegro achieve development and stands ready to be a reliable and long-term partner, he said.
China appreciates Montenegro's commitment to the one-China principle and believes that the two countries will continue to support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, thus consolidating the political foundation for bilateral relations and creating important conditions for deeper cooperation, Wang said.
He added that China encourages Chinese enterprises to actively participate in Montenegro's infrastructure development and is ready to expand cooperation with Montenegro in tourism, energy, green transition and other areas.
On China-EU relations, Wang said China understands Montenegro's efforts to join the EU and hopes that Montenegro will become another good friend of China within the EU in the future.
China and the EU have maintained relations for more than half a century, and the essence of their cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win, he added.
He said current differences in economic and trade areas have arisen in the course of cooperation and can be properly resolved through dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation as China-EU relations continue to deepen.
Noting that the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism was established in response to the development needs of Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), Wang said China pursues such cooperation without geopolitical considerations, does not interfere in the internal affairs of regional countries, and looks forward to mutually beneficial outcomes.
China welcomes Montenegro, as the lead country of the China-CEEC environmental protection cooperation mechanism, to play its due role in developing the mechanism, he said.
Noting that all Balkan countries are good friends of China and maintain sound cooperation with China, Wang expressed hope that countries in the region will live in harmony, build mutual trust and achieve common development.
For his part, Ibrahimovic said Montenegro and China enjoy a long-standing friendship, and despite the geographical distance, the two peoples share a strong sense of friendship, with the Tara River Bridge symbolizing their shared historical memories.
Noting that this year marks both the 20th anniversary of Montenegro's independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, he said China's prompt recognition of Montenegro's independence demonstrated a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
Ibrahimovic said Montenegro warmly welcomes the first-ever visit by a Chinese foreign minister, adding that frequent visits to China by Montenegrin representatives from various sectors have sent a positive signal of the country's commitment to exchanges and cooperation with China.
Montenegro firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and no official from any Montenegrin government institution will engage in exchanges with Taiwan, he stressed.
Ibrahimovic said bilateral relations have maintained sound momentum and yielded fruitful results in practical cooperation, with Chinese enterprises playing an important role in major infrastructure projects, including Montenegro's north-south expressway.
Montenegro welcomes continued support from Chinese enterprises for its infrastructure development and in exploring cooperation on major projects involving power plants, railways, airports and ports, he said.
Montenegro also stands ready to expand cooperation with China in tourism, film, education and scientific research, carry forward traditional friendship and open up broader prospects for bilateral relations, he added.
Ibrahimovic commended China's important role in promoting world peace and development and expressed Montenegro's willingness to further strengthen coordination with China in multilateral and international affairs. ■
