On August 20, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Albanian Foreign Minister Edmond Panariti in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

Li said China and Albania have a profound traditional friendship and sound political trust, which is common wealth of both sides. "Recent years have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges between both sides and the two countries have achieved positive results in economic, trade, cultural and social cooperation," Li said. With different characteristics in development, China and Albania are highly complementary to each other. "China is willing to work with Albania to learn from each other, translate the friendship and mutual trust into more results of pragmatic cooperation and further promote trade and mutual investment. Both sides should also enhance cooperation in infrastructure, tourism, culture and education to achieve mutual benefit and bring more tangible benefits to both peoples," he added.

Li said China "respects and understands" Albania's strategic choice to join the European Union. "China attaches great importance to the EU's political and economic influence and regards it as an important pole in the world. China believes that the EU will properly handle the sovereign debt issue through its wisdom and capability to embrace new development," said Li. China is willing to seize new opportunities and work with the EU to build comprehensive, in-depth and lasting relations through innovative thinking, he said.

Panariti said Albania values its traditional friendship with China and is willing to work with the Chinese side to enhance communication and expand pragmatic cooperation for common development.