Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski met Tuesday in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
They welcomed the existing friendly relations between the two countries at all levels of bilateral cooperation.
Collocutors underlined that mutual relations note growing trend and development in the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding and a high level of confidence.
Gruevski sees an opportunity for strategic partnership in the cooperation between China and Macedonia especially in the development of economic ties, trade exchange and cooperation in the sphere of investments.
They emphasised that mutual cooperation can be enhanced in the spheres of infrastructure, construction, energy and medicine.
Gruevski introduced Jinping with reforms carried out in Macedonia as well as undertaken measures in attracting foreign investments and numerous benefits in doing business. He mentioned that Macedonia was open with full capacity for the initiative of the Chinese Government for closer economic cooperation between China and Central and East European countries.
Gruevski reaffirmed the favourable option of the Macedonian Government for construction of a technological industrial development zone intended only for Chinese companies in our country. He presented benefits and conditions which are important should Chinese companies decide to invest in Macedonia.
I have presented the good business climate in Macedonia and the fact that Macedonia has a free trade agreement with all countries in Europe which would be an excellent opportunity for any Chinese company to produce in Macedonia, with low costs and educated workforce, Gruevski said.
Regarding the China’s initiative for allocation of US$10 billion by the Chinese Government for financing projects, Gruevski said that Macedonia was ready to participate in it with concrete projects.
The Chinese President gave support to Macedonia’s participation in partnership that China opened through project for partnership with Central and East European countries for which Macedonia is interested. I am content that new Chinese President gave support to Macedonia for this and I hope that in the following period it will result in concrete completion of certain preparation of projects and their implementation, Gruevski said.
Jinping said that China attached great importance to bilateral relations and was willing to enhance ties on the basis of mutual respect, adding that bilateral cooperation had progressed smoothly in recent years. He underlined that participation of the Republic of Macedonia at the Conference for local leaders from China and Central and East European countries showed the interest of permanent improvement of the relations between the two countries, fact which China highly appreciated.
China is willing to boost high-level exchanges with Macedonia and improve bilateral cooperation so as to promote the development of ties, Jinping said.
Collocutors also referred to opportunities for cooperation in the areas of tourism, education and medicine.
Gruevski and Jinping also addressed several global political issues underlying that economy remained a main challenge which should influence on development of the countries providing better living standards for the citizens.
