On December 6, 2007, Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), and Premier Wen Jiabao met respectively with Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski in Beijing.

Wu Bangguo meets with Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski

During his meeting with Crvenkovski, Wu said China-Macedonia relations enjoy a sound momentum for development with increasing exchanges and cooperation at all levels and in various areas. The two countries have also maintained sound communication and coordination in international affairs, he said. China respects the path of development chosen independently by Macedonia and deems it an important cooperative partner in southeast Europe, Wu said. China is ready to join hands with the country to further enhance political trust, and facilitate bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas for the benefit of both peoples.

The Chinese NPC values its relations with the Macedonian parliament, Wu said, expressing his hope to enhance parliamentary dialogues and cooperation at various levels and strengthen friendly exchanges between special committees and groups of friendship. He also urged both sides to share experience in building democratic legal system and keep closer collaboration on multilateral occasions in a bid to build up friendship between both peoples and further cement bilateral ties.

Crvenkovski said his government highly treasures its relations with China, and will firmly stick to the one-China policy. He added Macedonia hopes to enhance all-round exchanges and cooperation with China including parliamentary exchanges.

Wen Jiabao meets with Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski

When meeting with the Macedonian president, Wen said bilateral relations have been developing smoothly since the normalization of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Facts prove that the China-Macedonia friendly cooperative ties based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and have broad prospect for development. President Crvenkovski's visit to China has scored important results, said Wen. He applauded the joint statement issued by both sides on deepening mutually beneficial cooperative relations, regarding it as a new milestone in the development of bilateral ties. The premier pledged to work with the Macedonian side to earnestly implement the joint statement and push for all-round development of bilateral ties.

With regard to trade relations, Wen said China attaches importance to its trade cooperation with Macedonia, expressing hope that both sides will tap potential, make reasonable plans and arouse the enthusiasm of businesses and localities of the two countries in an effort to expand area, enrich content and enlarge the scale for cooperation and promote balanced development of bilateral trade.

Crvenkovski added that Macedonia hopes to take the opportunity of the joint statement to conduct exchanges and cooperation with China at multiple levels and in a wider area.