I. On April 4, 2002, George Efremov, new Mocedonian ambassador to China presented his credentials to President Jiang Zemin. From April 25 to 30, Boris Trajkovski, Macedonian President visited China at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin. The two heads of state signed the Joint Statement on Consolidating and Facilitating Friendly Relations of Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Macedonia. During the visit, the two sides signed the Agreement on Cooperation in Animal Quarantine and Health between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the Agreement on Cooperation in Plant Quarantine between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the Agreement on Cooperation in Public Health and Medicine between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the Agreement on Economic and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the Implementation Plan for 2002-2004 Cultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia and the Agreement on the Establishment of Friendly Relations between Dalian Municipality and Ohrid Municipality. On May 9, Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council met with the departing and in-coming diplomatic envoys among whom there was the new Macedonian ambassador to China George Efremov. From June 22 to 29, Srgjan Kerim, Macedonian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

From March 4 to 7, 2002, He Xiaowei, Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, visited Macedonia.

From January 20 to 27, 2002, Branco Crvenkovski, Chairman of the Social- Democratic Alliance of Macedonia, visited China.

II, Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations and Economic and Technological Cooperation

According to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs of China, the trade volume between China and Macedonia was US$17.92 million, up 72.2 perceng from the previous year. Of the total, China's export was US$17.28 million, and export US$0.64 million, up 68 percent and 326.7 percent respectively from the previous year.

On May 29, 2003, Macedonian Kegra hydroelectric station constructed by China officially stored water. Macedonian Prime Minister Branka Crvenkovski attended the water storage ceremony.

III, Bilateral Exchanges and Cooperation in Other Fields.

From January 20 to 27, 2002, Branko Crvenkovski, Chairman of Social Democratic Alliance, paid a visit to China at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wei Jianxing, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Dai Bingguo and Deputy Head Cai Wu, Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaodong, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Li Shuzheng respectively met with the foreign guest.

From November 15 to 25, 2002, Macedonian Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Macedonian Interior Organization Revolution Ljupco Georgievski visited China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Guchang, and President of the Institute Mei Zhaoren respectively met with the guest. Besides a visit to Beijing, the delegation also paid a visit to Xi'an and Shanghai.

From January 19 to 22, 2003, at the invitation of Macedonian Social Democratic Alliance, Deputy Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Cai Wu visit China. Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, Speaker Nibola Popovski, Vice Prime Minister Radmila Sekjerinska, Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva, Chairman of the Interior Organization Revolution Ljupco Georgievski, and Risto Penov, Mayor of Skopji, Capital of the Republic of Macedonia, respectively met with the Chinese delegation.

From February 23 to 27, 2003, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) delegation paid a visit to Macedonia at the invitation of Macedonian Defense Ministry. Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, Minister of Defense Vlado Buckovski, General Chief of Staff Meladi Stamboliski, Deputy Minister of Defense Rizvan Sulejmani respectively met and held talks with the Chinese delegation.