Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Cetinje, a city near Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, on Saturday, expressing Montenegro's willingness to deepen friendly relations and practical cooperation with China.
Milatovic asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and welcomed the first-ever visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Montenegro.
Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Montenegro and China, Milatovic said the visit holds important symbolic significance.
Recalling his experience studying in China, Milatovic said he had gained a deeper understanding of China's economic and social development and the lives of its people, as well as the importance of cooperation with China.
Noting that European Union (EU) accession is currently a priority on Montenegro's foreign policy agenda, Milatovic said the country also attaches great importance to relations with China, with Montenegro firmly adhering to the one-China principle and remaining committed to friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
Over the past two decades, Montenegro-China relations have made significant progress across various fields, with infrastructure, economic and trade, and tourism emerging as three key areas, he said.
Earlier this year, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and Chinese Premier Li Qiang reached important consensus on further deepening cooperation during their meeting in China, Milatovic said, adding that Montenegro looks forward to maintaining political dialogue and deepening practical cooperation with China based on mutual respect, so as to bring greater benefits to the two peoples.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed Xi's cordial greetings to Milatovic, saying that despite the geographical distance, China and Montenegro have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, setting an example of friendly exchanges between countries of different sizes.
Wang said China appreciates Milatovic's rational and objective understanding of China and his active efforts to promote bilateral relations.
He said China has consistently maintained that all countries, big or small, are equal, and has always followed the path of partnership over alliance and dialogue over confrontation.
China appreciates Montenegro's firm adherence to the one-China principle, respects the path and governance model chosen by the Montenegrin people, and stands ready to be a reliable and trustworthy partner of Montenegro, he added.
Wang said China has engaged in practical cooperation with Montenegro in good faith, delivering tangible results. Describing Montenegro's north-south expressway as a landmark project of historic significance, he called on both sides to ensure the high-quality completion of its second phase.
Montenegro enjoys unique tourism resources and has a historical tradition of anti-fascism, Wang said, adding that China is helping restore the Tara River Bridge, which was featured in the famous Yugoslav film "The Bridge," and that more Chinese tourists are expected to visit Montenegro.
Wang said the two sides should take the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year as an opportunity to review successful cooperation, jointly discuss ways to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level, explore new areas of cooperation, and build an even brighter next 20 years.
On China-EU relations, Wang said China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners and their relations have remained generally sound and stable.
China has always maintained that China and the EU are partners, not rivals, he said, noting that differences over economic and trade issues, which have emerged amid increasingly closer cooperation, can be resolved through dialogue and should not affect the overall development of China-EU relations.
Wang said China understands Montenegro's efforts to join the EU and its choice to pursue European integration, noting that the process is fully compatible with deeper cooperation with China.
China believes Montenegro will become another good friend of China within the EU after its accession, and hopes Montenegro will play a unique and important role in promoting regional peace and stability and advancing China-EU relations, Wang said.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the Ukraine crisis.
Before the meeting, Milatovic and Wang jointly visited a photo exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of China-Montenegro diplomatic relations.
During his visit, Wang also met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and held talks with Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic.
Montenegrin president meets Chinese foreign minister
