Ambassador Zhang Zuo Gives Exclusive Interview on MRT

　2019年10月10日，驻北马其顿大使张佐接受北马其顿国家广播电视台（MRT）专访。专访实录如下：

　　记者：欢迎您在新中国成立70周年的特殊年份，履新担任中国驻北马其顿大使。作为新任大使，您都有哪些重点任务？

On October 10, H.E. Ambassador Zhang Zuo gave an exclusive interview on MRT Interview of the Week hosted by Zoran Bogatinov. The full text is as follows.

Bogatinov: Welcome to be new ambassador in North Macedonia in this special year of the 70th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. What are your priorities?

　　张佐大使：在新中国成立70周年的特殊年份，我赴北马履新，深感责任重大，使命光荣。中国和北马其顿双边关系良好，传统友谊深厚。两国自建交以来，高层往来密切，政治互信牢固，务实合作成果丰硕。我将不忘初心、牢记使命，同北马方共同努力，推动中北马关系迈上新台阶：

Ambassador Zhang Zuo: As new Chinese Ambassador to North Macedonia in this special year, I sincerely feel my responsibilities are great and my mission honorable. China and North Macedonia have enjoyed good bilateral relations and profound traditional friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, our two countries have maintained close high-level exchanges, strong political mutual trust and fruitful practical cooperation. I will keep my original aspiration and mission firmly in mind, and work with the side of North Macedonia to promote our bilateral relations to a new level:

　　一是深化政治互信，积极推动高层交往，筹备好中国同中东欧国家领导人峰会等高层重大活动，推动两国政党、议会、政府等各层级交流，巩固传统友谊，筑牢政治互信；

　　二是促进经济互利，深入开展共建“一带一路”和“17+1合作”，积极拓展互利合作空间，深化双方在贸易、投资、能源、农业、基础设施等领域合作；

Firstly, we will deepen our political mutual trust, actively promote high-level exchanges, fully prepare for high-level events including the summit between China and CEE countries, and promote exchanges between political parties, legislatures and governments at various levels of our two countries, so as to consolidate our traditional friendship and political mutual trust.

Secondly, we will promote mutual benefits in economic field, deepen joint construction of "the Belt and Road" and "17+1 Cooperation", actively expand space for mutual beneficial cooperation, and deepen bilateral cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.

　　三是提升人文互通，为双边关系发展注入新动力。扩大人文和地方交流，继续商签持普通护照人员互免签证协定，深化文化旅游、教育科技、中医药等领域交流合作；

　　四是坚持安全互鉴，促进防务领域互学互鉴，拓展执法安全合作，合力打击跨国犯罪，维护共同安全、普遍安全；

Thirdly, we will enhance people-to-people exchanges and add new impetus for the development of bilateral relations. I will expand cultural exchanges and exchanges between local governments, continue to work on an agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visas for Ordinary Passport Holders, deepen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as culture, tourism, education, science and technology, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Fourthly, we will keep mutual learning in the security field, enhance dialogues and exchanges on national defense, expand cooperation in law enforcement, and jointly combat transnational crime, so as to safeguard common security and universal security.