• Political cooperation

Diplomatic relations between Albania and China were established on November 23, 1949. The two countries enjoy friendly and traditional relations between them. Albania recognizes the one-China policy and respects its territorial integrity. The friendship between China and Albania is based not only on diplomatic relations, or economic and political relations, but also on values ​​and exchanges in the field of cultural programs.

In 1963, Albania, as a member country of the UN, proposed and supported diplomatically the readmission of China to this organization. On October 25, 1971, at the 26th session of the General Assembly, the People’s Republic of China was admitted with full rights to the UN.

The friendship between our two countries had its origins during the Cold War period. It was a conditional friendship, which was initially based on interests closely related to the specificity and mentality of that time.

Despite the oscillations, or friendship with temporary suspension, our two countries have rediscovered the common language to cooperate more closely and in a more structured way.

Currently there is a very good climate of bilateral cooperation, with a satisfactory level of political dialogue and exchange of visits at high levels. High-level visits between China and Albania have also been accompanied by important economic and cultural activities, such as economic forums, exhibitions, etc. The current level of relations has created all the premises for further intensification of cooperation and mutual exchanges in all fields.

Both countries aim to strengthen interstate dialogue at all levels: governmental, parliamentary, party, non-governmental, academic, cultural, as well as in all areas of mutual interest.

Albania has welcomed the economic development of the RP of China during the last decades and appreciates China as a powerful leader in the world economy. Also, considering that the People’s Republic of China is a Permanent member of the UN Security Council, China’s foreign policy has been evaluated as an important factor in world peace and stability.

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• Economic cooperation

The economic cooperation between the two countries has increased, especially in recent years, however, compared to the potential that exists, it is still not at a satisfactory level. Currently, China is Albania’s third trading partner, with 8% of the total trade volume, while Albanian exports to China continue to grow significantly.

Over 50 economic agreements have been signed between the two countries and China is one of the main trade partners for Albania. Albanian exports to China have increased significantly, while the main weight is occupied by chrome and copper minerals. The Chinese government supports and encourages Chinese companies to invest in Albania in the fields of energy, infrastructure, exploitation of natural resources, etc. In the framework of the technical cooperation between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy and the Ministry of Trade of the RP of China, in November 2009, the Memorandum of Economic Cooperation was signed. In this regard, technical assistance from the Chinese side has been increasing.

The Albanian government has expressed its willingness to cooperate with the Chinese side, in terms of encouraging Chinese investors to invest in the development of Free Zones. Parks or Industrial Zones, based on the partnership of the public and private sectors. The SWAP agreement signed in September 2013 between the Bank of Albania and the People’s Bank of China will promote the growth of economic-commercial exchanges.

China – Central and Eastern Europe cooperation initiative

The initiative proposed by the Chinese government “On cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe” is a new and very important instrument that is further enriching our cooperation. Within the framework of the Initiative, Albania has been an active participant in the activities organized by the Secretariat of the Initiative.

Albania remains a supporter of any initiative that brings mutual benefits to our economies and peoples and is determined to follow the initiatives undertaken and will try to combine them with the European integration agenda, which together are and should be in complete harmony and unison, with the aim of harmonizing the Initiative’s projects with EU standards and legal framework.

Several Albanian companies participate in the Consumer Goods Fair that takes place every year in Ningbo, China, presenting their products such as olive oil, honey, medicinal plants, wine, etc.

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• Agreements signed between our two countries 

1. Agreement on economic, industrial and technical cooperation, signed on 23.11.1989
2. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of China for the promotion and mutual protection of investments, signed on 2.1993, entered into force on 20.1.1994.
3. Trade agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 2.1993, entered into force on the date of signing.
4. Protocol on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 6.1994, entered into force on the date of signing.
5. Protocol on the loan of Chinese military aid to Albania between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 12.1994.
6. Protocol of cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Albania and the National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 3.1994, entered into force on the date of signing.
7. Cultural and artistic exchange program between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the years 96-97, signed on 12.1996, entered into force on the date of signing.
8. Cooperation agreement between Albanian Radio-Television and the Ministry of Radio, Film, Television of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 1.1996, entered into force on the date of signing.
9. Cultural exchange program between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the years 1998-2000, signed on 11.1998.
10. Agreement for the rescheduling of debts, signed on 12.2001.
11. Economic-commercial cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 1.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
12. Agreement for the elimination of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 13.9.2004, entered into force on 7.2005, begins its operation on 1.1.2006.
13. Agreement in the field of education and science between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Education of China, signed on 13.9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
14. Agreement between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry between Albania and China, signed on 9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
15. Agreement between the Albanian Radiotelevision and the Chinese Radiotelevision, signed on 9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
16. Economic and technical cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 13.9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
17. Joint communication between the Republic of Albania and the People’s Republic of China, signed on 9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
18. Agreement with exchange of notes for free assistance in machinery and equipment in the amount of 15 million between the Government of RS and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
19. Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 9.2004;
20. Protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China for the regulation of the premises of the representations of the two countries, signed on 21.11.2005, entered into force on the date of signing.
21. Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China for cooperation in the field of archives, signed in Tirana, on 22.12.2005, entered into force on the date of signing.
22. Agreement for economic and technical cooperation for the provision of assistance for the supply of secondary schools with computers (10 million), signed on 22.12.2005.
23. Agreement on economic and technical cooperation for the provision of aid of 1 million, signed on 13.9.2004, entered into force on the date of signing,
24. Agreement on economic-technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 22.12.2005, entered into force on the date of signing.
25. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the waiver of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports, signed on 25.8.1956.
26. Protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, for the termination of reciprocity of the Embassy buildings, signed on 11.2005, entered into force on the date of signing.
27. Agreement for cooperation in the field of defense between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 28.3.2005, entered into force on the same date.
28. Agreement on technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for granting a grant of 10 million RMB, signed on 4.2006, entered into force on the date of signing.
29. Cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 9.2007, entered into force on the date of signing.
30. Memorandum of Albanian-Chinese cooperation, signed in the framework of the development of the “6th Session of the Mixed Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation with the Government of the People’s Republic of China”, signed on 3.6.2008, entered into force on the date of signing.
31. Memorandum of the sixth session of the Albanian-Chinese intergovernmental joint commission for economic and technical cooperation, signed on 3.6.2008, entered into force on the date of signing.
32. Agreement between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 21.4.2009, entered into force on the date of signing.
33. Program for cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 21.4.2009, entered into force on the date of signing.
34. Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 10.2009, entered into force on the date of signing;
35. The memorandum of economic cooperation between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Trade of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 29.10.2009, entered into force on the date of signing.
36. The educational cooperation program between the Ministry of Education and Science of the RS and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, for the years 2010-2012, signed on 29.10.2009, entered into force on the date of signing.
37. Cooperation agreement in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Albania and the National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China for the years 2011-2013, signed on 3.8.2011, entered into force on the date of signing.
38. Agreement on exchange of notes in implementation of the Agreement for economic-technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 3.8.2011, entered into force on the date of signing.
39. Memorandum of understanding between MTRKS and the Tourism Administration of the Republic of China for facilitating the travel of Chinese tourist groups to Albania, signed on 12.6.2012, entered into force on the date of signing.
40. Protocol of the eighth session of the joint intergovernmental Albanian-Chinese commission for economic and trade cooperation, signed on 16.1.2014.
41. Agreement on economic-technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 23.1.2014.
42. Agreement on economic-technical cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 15.7.2015.
43. Memorandum of understanding on plans to promote the cooperation of expert groups between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Information Office of the State Council of the Republic of China, signed in Beijing on 12.05.2017, entered into force on the date of signing .
44. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania on cooperation within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, signed on May 14, 2017, entered into effective date of signature.
45. Protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Albania and the General Administration of the People’s Republic of China, for the Inspection and Sanitary Quarantine Conditions for the Export of Honey from Albania to China, signed on 05.02.2021, entered into force on of signature.
46. Protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Albania and the General Administration of the People’s Republic of China, for Inspection and Quarantine Conditions for Dairy Products Exported from the Republic of Albania to the People’s Republic of China, signed on 05.02.2021, entered into force on the date of signature.
47. Long-term cooperation agreement in the field of tourism, especially in the cooperation of tourist businesses of both countries between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Albania and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, signed on 15.02.2023, in Tirana.

Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the waiver of visas for holders of passports of public officials and ordinary passports, signed on 16.01.2023 and entered into force on 18.03.2023.

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Agreement in process to be signed

1. Draft agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and degrees of higher education – sent for MASR competence, the draft agreement is a proposal of the Chinese side in 2018 – direct negotiations with MASR continue.
2. Memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a Chinese Cultural Center in Albania, proposal of the Chinese side July 2016 approved in principle – ready for signature by our side.
3. Draft protocol for ensuring phytosanitary requirements for mutual shipments of products with high phytosanitary risk 2016 – interagency agreement sent final drafts to the Chinese side – ready for signature.
4. Draft agreement on mutual assistance in criminal matters, draft agreement on assistance in civil and commercial matters, Draft Agreement on extradition, – the revised texts of the Chinese side have been forwarded to the MoD for evaluation and competence – proposal of the Albanian side in 2004.
5. Project Memorandum of Understanding between MZHU for cooperation in the field of urban development, spatial planning and housing – it was planned to be signed in July 2017, but we have no information how it was processed – the agreement is a proposal of the Albanian side in 2010.
6. Draft cooperation protocol between the Ministries of Labor on social issues – forwarded to the Chinese side for comments and suggestions since 2007, there is no response from their side.
7. Draft agreement between the KM of RSH and the Government of RPK for the prevention of theft, clandestine excavations and illegal import-export of cultural heritage – forwarded for competence to the Ministry of Culture in 2018 (proposal of the Chinese side in 2011).
8. The opening of a liaison office of Albania in Qingdao, Shandong – RRCIC proposal, for which the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Beijing has requested detailed information on the status, management, costs, etc.
9. Opening of a Youth Development Center – there is no concrete draft agreement text proposed by the Chinese side.
10. Economic-technical agreement for the construction of the intercity station, the agreement of the Albanian side regarding the text has been forwarded, direct negotiations with MIE and Tirana Municipality continue.
11. Draft agreement between the KM of RSH and the Government of RPK for the promotion of Investments – the suggestions of the Albanian side were sent in March 2020. The agreement comes as an initiative of the Chinese side in December 2019.

Agreement for the export of some Albanian products

• Agreement on aquatic (sea) products is in progress.
• The agreement for animal products, (mainly leather and lamb/chicken offal), the initiative was taken by our side;
• We have recently requested to start the procedure for the barrier-free export of poultry products and by-products from Albania to the People’s Republic of China.