I.Bilateral Political Relations

The People's Republic ofChinaandAlbaniaestablished diplomatic relations onNovember 23, 1949and exchanged ambassadors in 1954. In 1971,Albaniamade important contribution to the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic ofChinain the United Nations. In recent years, the two countries have witnessed the stable development of bilateral relations and bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been on the increase.

The following are the important visits to Albania by Chinese leaders since the establishment of diplomatic relations:Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Peng Zhen (January 1957); Vice Premier and Defense Minister Peng Dehuai (May 1959); Premier Zhou Enlai (December 1963, March 1965, and June 1966); Vice Premier Li Xiannian (November 1969); Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee Xu Xiangqian (July 1973); Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen (September 1993); Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wan Guoquan (October 1994); Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the NPC Bu He (November 1994); Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yingfan (July 1999); Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (December 2000); Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the NPC Tomur Dawamat (June 2002); State Councilor Wu Yi (July 2002); a Chinese military friendship delegation (December 2002); and Vice Minister of Justice Liu Yang (April 2003). In April 2003, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was invited to hold a phone conversation with Albanian Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mehta.

The major visits to China by Albanian leader are as follows:Hoxha, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Labor Part (August 1956); Marko, Chairman of the Albanian People's Congress (May 1957); Balluku, a member of the Political Burean of the Central Committee of the Albanian Labor Party, Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and Defense Minister (September 1958, September 1964, January 1967, September 1968, and November 1972); Shehu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Albanian Labor Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Council of Ministers (September 1959 and April 1966); Lleshi, Chairman of the Albanian People's Congress (June 1960); Koleka, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Albanian Labor Party and First Vice Chairman of the Council of Minister (January 1961); Kerrezi, Vice Chairman of the Albanian Council of Ministers (November 1961 and September 1970); Sarcani, Vice Chairman of the Albanian Council of Ministers (October 1968 and June 1975);Foreign Minister Malile (January 1991);Foreign Minister Sereqi (February 1993);Kopliku, Vice Chairman of the Albanian Council of Ministers (June 1993);Arbnori, Chairman of the Albanian People's Congress (April 1994);Defense Minister Zhulali (October 1994); President Berisha (January 1996); Interior Minister Musaraj (March 1996); Foreign Minister Milo (November 1998);Goro, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Albanian People's Congress (September 1999); President Meidani (December 1999); Speaker Gjinushi (March 2001). In April 2002, Mayor of Tirana, Capital of Albania, visitedBeijing, Cpital of China. The two cities has begun exchanges and cooperation ever since.

II. Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations

The Sino-Albanian Inter-Government Joint Committee on Economic and Technological Cooperation was established in 1990 and has held three regular meetings by the end of 2001.

In recent years, bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries have achieved gradual development. The trade volume between the two countries came to US$9.77 million in 1996, of whichChina's export was US$7.3 million and import US$2.47 million. Bilateral trade volume was US$14.32 million in 2000. In 2001, the trade volume between the two countries amounted to US$16.11 million, increasing by 12.5 percent compared with the previous year. In 2002, the Sino-Albanian trade volume reached US$18.78 million, up 16.6 percent from the previous year, of whichAlbania's export was US$90,000, ending its situation of non-export toChina.

III. Bilateral Exchanges and Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Science and Technology and Education

In 1954,ChinaandAlbaniasigned an agreement on inter-governmental cultural cooperation. Since then, eight programs for annual cultural exchanges between the two countries have been successively signed. In 1991, the two countries signed an accord on cultural, educational, and scientific and technological cooperation between the two governments. According to the agreement, related departments between the two countries signed three programs for annual exchanges. In 2001, there were 11 Albanian students studying inChinaand one Albanian teacher teaching in theBeijingForeignStudiesUniversity.

In July 2001, theChineseAcademyof Sciences delegation visitedAlbaniaat the invitation of theAlbanianAcademyof Sciences, realizing the first exchange and cooperation between the two institutions over the past 25 years. In April 2002, the delegation of theAlbanianAcademyof Sciences visitedChinaand signed an agreement of cooperation with theChineseAcademyof Sciences.

IV. Important Bilateral Agreements

Joint Communiqué Between the People's Republic ofChinaand theRepublicofAlbania(January 20, 1996)

Joint Communiqué Between the People's Republic ofChinaand theRepublicofAlbania(December 5, 2000)