On the afternoon of April 20, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who is here for an official visit.

Hu said this year marks the 60th anniversary of Sino-Albanian diplomatic ties, and the bilateral friendship has remained unchanged over the past six decades despite changes in the domestic and international situation. "Sino-Albanian relations are now at a new starting point, with a new opportunity for further development," Hu said. He said China will take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary to deepen the traditional friendship, strengthen friendly exchanges and expand pragmatic cooperation with Albania based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and inject new vigor and vitality into the friendly and cooperative relationship in the 21st century.

Hu stressed the importance of trade cooperation and said he hoped the two countries would give better play to the role of the mixed committee on economy and trade, intensify consultations and coordination between responsible departments of the two governments and explore new ways of cooperating. China encourages its enterprises to invest in Albania, and also welcomes Albanian entrepreneurs to actively explore the Chinese market, Hu said. He hoped that both sides will make joint efforts to tap potential and lift bilateral trade cooperation to a new level.

Berisha thanked for President Hu's meeting with him, saying that he was greatly honored to visit China on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Albania-China diplomatic ties. The 60th anniversary of Albania-China diplomatic relations also marks 60 years of friendship between the two peoples. He said Albania valued its relationship with China and the traditional friendship with the Chinese people and was thankful for the disinterested assistance offered by the Chinese side. "I could feel the development of China every time I came here," Berisha said, adding that he was encouraged by the country's achievements.

Echoing Hu's proposals on enhancing bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation, Berisha said Albania would offer more help to Chinese enterprises in Albania and raise bilateral friendly and cooperative relations to a new level for the benefit of both peoples.

He also reaffirmed Albania's adherence to the one-China policy.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other officials attended the meeting.