On February 18, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang held a working consultation between Chinese and Albanian Foreign Ministries in Tirana, the capital of Albania, with Etjen Xhafaj, Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister and National Coordinator for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), and met with Gent Cakaj, Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister.

Qin Gang briefed on the latest situation of the Chinese side's prevention and control of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, and emphasized that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people have established a nationwide system of joint prevention and control to fight the epidemic, and achieved remarkable results in prevention and control work. The Chinese side has the confidence, capability, and determination to defeat the epidemic. The impact of the epidemic on China's economy is temporary. The fundamentals of the long-term positive trend of China's economy will not change. We will work hard to achieve the economic and social development goals set for this year.

Qin Gang said, the traditional friendship between China and Albania has been consolidated with the passing of time. In the new era, the Chinese side is willing to work with the Albanian side to take the opportunities of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and China-CEEC cooperation, cement political mutual trust, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and promote greater development of bilateral relations.

The Albanian side expressed, under President Xi Jinping's personal deployment, the Chinese side has taken effective measures in a timely manner to fight the epidemic, which is widely praised by the international community. It is believed that the Chinese side can defeat the epidemic at an early date. The Albanian side is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with the Chinese side, continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieve more practical results through the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and CEEC-China cooperation.

Qin Gang also visited the staff at the Chinese Embassy in Albania and conveyed the warm greetings of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He commended the Embassy for devoting to its duty, overcoming difficulties, keeping working, and actively promoting the development of China-Albania relations during the earthquake disaster in Albania.