China, North Macedonia to cooperate on infrastructure

 Li Keqiang n Zoran Zaev

DUBROVNIK, Croatia, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on Friday, calling on the two countries to enhance infrastructure cooperation.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the eighth leaders' meeting between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) at the southern Croatian coastal city of Dubrovnik.

Commending the bilateral relations, Li said China and North Macedonia respect and trust each other, and that practical cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful achievements.

China stands ready to dovetail the Belt and Road Initiative with North Macedonia's development strategy, said Li, adding that highway projects are a landmark for bilateral cooperation, which is of great significance to North Macedonia's socio-economic development and regional connectivity.

The premier said China is willing to work in close coordination with North Macedonia to promote transport infrastructure cooperation for greater achievements, voicing his hope for facilitation by the country to the highway construction.

Applauding the relations and cooperation between the two countries, Zaev said his country has benefited from the China-CEEC cooperation and the connectivity projects.

North Macedonia stands ready to work with China to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture and infrastructure to boost bilateral relations, he said.