When talking about China, geographically quite far from Albania on the Asian continent, many people in our country think of the images of the Albanian-Chinese friendship during the communist era, but also the goods imported by traders for the popular markets. Then to these images are added the international news on the television screens where China is reported as a superpower, with an economic boom and interesting developments in the latest technology. All these create a distant perception of this country, even though relations with China have always been present, trade exchanges have continued and a small Chinese community lives and works in Albania.
When you are first invited to China, the idea of traveling far and to an unknown world fills you with shyness. When you arrive in Beijing, the shyness disappears as this city is one of the safest metropolises to travel to and the urban landscape does not differ much from that of other cities of million inhabitants.
Beijing surprises you with the vibrations of a modern lifestyle, sleek infrastructure with the endless skyscrapers of the city, wide and functional roads, reasonable traffic. The streets are lively but not crowded as one might expect in a city of more than 21 million people. The shopping streets are full of people who also frequent the restaurants and cafes. Chinese food, famous all over the world, does not disappoint you, you just have to get used to the slightly sweet taste of cooking.
New Silk Road Initiative
Since 2017, China has undertaken the initiative to revive the ancient and historic trade route with Europe, the Silk Road, an initiative that is projected as one of the largest infrastructure plans of the 21st century, where the benefits will be for the economies in all the world.
The Silk Road project includes roads, highways, sea lanes, ports, energy networks, financial institutions and fiber optic cables from Singapore north through Malaysia and Vietnam, passing west to China’s Xinjang province, then to Central Asia and Pakistan, connecting to the oil fields of Iran, the Middle East and Africa, to follow the rail and port connection from London to Colombo to Jakarta.
This project, launched in 2013, aims to increase connectivity and economic development across 60 countries.
The initiative aims to increase cooperation between peoples and benefits for all countries involved.
Albania on the Silk Road
During the participation in the “One Belt, One Road” forum in May 2017, Albania signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on further strengthening cooperation in the fields of transport, infrastructure and the financial aspect. The memorandum was signed by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Sokol Dervishaj and the Director of the National Committee for Development and Reform He Lifeng.
Thus, Albania also takes part in this important process, with the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Chinese side for this initiative. This memorandum marks the way the country’s relationship will work, especially with financiers starting from China, but also with the various banks that have joined this process with concrete projects.
The cooperation memorandum contains 7 points, such as the economic empowerment of the two countries, the strengthening of cooperation in the aspects of infrastructure development, transport, etc.
The level of relations with China
Accumulated Chinese investment in Albania has increased fortyfold, increasing from less than USD 20 million in 2014 to more than USD 800 million at the end of 2017. In 2018, Albania has waived visas for Chinese tourists during the tourist season and the number of Chinese tourists who have visited Albania has increased by 64%, compared to the same period last year. Exchanges between the legislative institutions and parties of the two countries are active, becoming an important platform for increasing communication and mutual learning, for promoting cooperation with mutual interests and for inheriting traditional friendship.
Human and cultural exchanges are ongoing, with a good trend of interactions. The agreement was signed for the establishment of the Chinese Cultural Center in Albania, which will become a wider stage for cultural exchanges. The network of learning Chinese in Albania and that of learning Albanian in China are expanding day by day. The universities of the two countries have signed many cooperation documents, taking the exchanges between them on a new path.
Seminar on Broadcast Technologies
Some of the countries involved in the new initiative “One Belt, One Road” were participants in the seminar organized by the International Training Center in Beijing “On Radio, Television and Video Broadcasting Technologies fort Belt and Road Countries”. The seminar conceived in the form of lectures by authorities in the field of technology
Use of technology
Visits to several radio and television networks in Harbin were the icing on the cake for the group. Advanced technologies in broadcasting, the use of artificial intelligence in sign language, well-equipped studios and diverse products of television platforms sparked curiosity to learn more.
New broadcasting technologies have transformed the way of life in this country, where different platforms serve not only to receive information but also for services and also, purchases or other functions. The use of technology has reached a wide reach in the population, while the cable networks are slowly going out of service.
/Argumentum.al
