China is willing to promote the traditional friendship and cooperation ties with Albania, said Chinese senior state affairs advisor Wang Zhongyu in Beijing Wednesday.

Wang, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body, made the remark in a meeting with visiting Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami.

Wang said 2004 is the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. With a long friendly tradition between the two peoples, China and Albania have maintained good records on political, economic and international cooperation.

China thanks Albania for its adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan issue, Wang said. He said China's new leadership cherishes the Sino-Albanian friendship and is willing to promote mutual relations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity and non-interference with each other's domestic affairs.

Islami said the Albanian government, admiring the great achievements China has made in recent years, highly values bilateral ties with China, and is willing to strengthen economic exchange and cooperation.

Albania will continue its adherence to the one-China policy and China's unification, Islami said, adding Albania will reject any words or acts against the policy.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)