On November 23, 2019, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with President Ilir Meta of Albania on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his congratulatory message, Xi Jinping said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations 70 years ago, regardless of the changing international situation, the traditional friendship between China and Albania has grown stronger. In recent years, China-Albania relations have achieved new and great progress, enjoying firm political mutual trust and fruitful results from communication and cooperation in various fields, and China-Albania friendship has become more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Under the new situation, China-Albania cooperation faces sound opportunities and broad prospects. I attach great importance to the development of China-Albania relations, and I am ready to work with President Ilir Meta to take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative by the two countries, so as to elevate China-Albania relations to a new level and benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Ilir Meta said in his message, I speak highly of the positive progress achieved in the friendly Albania-China relations since the two countries established diplomatic relations 70 years ago. The joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and the mechanism of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) in recent years will break new ground for Albania-China relations. Let us work together to make 2019 a year that can see higher levels of mutually beneficial cooperation between Albania and China, and closer bonds between the two peoples.

On the same day, Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania. Li Keqiang said, the Chinese side is ready to work with the Albanian side to take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a new starting point to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, and enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms like China-CEEC cooperation, so as to promote the greater development of China-Albania relations and China-CEEC cooperation. Edi Rama said, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the Chinese side's support and assistance to the Albanian side over the past decades. The Albanian side is ready to further promote the development of Albania-China relations and facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.