In a multipolar world, whereas economic powers are not only the United Stated, but also China, Germany, Australia and other countries, the importance of building cooperation and have a peaceful coexistence with everyone is a significant advantage for small countries and small economies as the Macedonian country and economy.
Considering the fact that the Macedonian market it consists of 1.6 million active users, it is a certain thing that the country has a big space that is reserved for the import and export element. The imports and exports are components of the GDP that drive the Macedonian economy, alongside with the tourism and the agriculture as additional fields.
Aspects that can bring some potential more in depth economic ties:
China has some role into helping out the Macedonian economy, not only on the trading aspect, but also in the infrastructural one. Building a country that is adaptable to the 21st century is the main priority to the Macedonian government, especially two very important areas like the “Corridor 8” which is the road and rail transport corridor that passes through Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, connecting the port of Varna in Bulgaria, from the Black Sea, to the port of Durrës in the Adriatic. This chain is then connected to Italy, the only EU member state within this corridor. The corridor is designed to facilitate trade and transport across the Balkans, connecting the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea. And “Corridor 10” which is part of the Trans-European Networks (TENs) and runs from the border with Serbia to the border with Greece. It connects several countries, including Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Greece, and is known for its importance in facilitating transportation and trade across the Balkan region to Central Europe and more. China here sees a potential economic partner that can help out the Chinese goods to be delivered to Central Europe in quite short period of time.
With the help of some Chinese companies’ the infrastructural projects, for instance; Krupiste-Kocani road, Miladinovci-Stip and Kicevo-Ohrid highways and others are effectively operating now or are under the process of construction. Since China has proved to the world that building complex highways, roads, tunnels or even big hydropower plants it is a mission possible, the future of the China-Macedonian economic ties can be upgraded by new projects in the infrastructure, energy or even new trades.
On the other hand, tourism is a branch that certainly should not be neglected. Since November 30th, 2024 China’s Foreign Ministry announced that it will extend the visa-free regime policy to nine more countries, including Macedonia. Starting Nov. 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, including an additional nine countries, will be able to enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchanging visits, and transit, for no longer than 30 days. The Macedonian side is still into the process of a consideration regarding the visa policies towards Chinese citizens. Allowing more tourists that can witness and explore the Macedonian nature and cultural heritages would be a step forward for the economy, if we add the point that Macedonia is considered one of the cheapest countries within the European continent.
Furthermore, Macedonia has already established some collaboration on academic levels with some of the leading Chinese higher education institutions. It is a field that both sides can open some horizons for deeper ties, helping the Chinese and the Macedonian universities to accomplish their goals towards the academic research world. A country that puts resources into power to educate its own citizens, for that country the outcome will always be positive not only for its economy but also an advantage for the world.
Obviously the AI industry is something that Macedonia can seriously pay a closer attention to learn the process from China, having China as the leading country into these types of advance technologies.
Another point that can help into strengthening the economic ties between Macedonia and China is that if both countries would open Chambers of commerce, one in Skopje which will be supported by the Chinese embassy in Macedonia and one in Beijing also that will be supported by the Macedonian embassy in China. This would make sense in order for the two countries to start a new trading era and to have an opportunity for more FDIs between the both sides.
The point of mutual cooperation is obviously to gain more experience, to learn, to have benefits and to keep a safer planet for all of us. Nowadays, captured by the wrong propaganda that circulates around the world can provoke a phenomenon known as “isolation”, and this position can bring disadvantages for the countries. The future should be for everyone to work as a big team and make things convenient for the people all around the world.
Writer: Bojana Jovanovska- Researcher in the Jinhua institute of Xi’an Jiaotong University
中国和马其顿如何加强经济联系？
在一个多极化的世界中，虽然经济大国是美国，还有中国、德国、澳大利亚和其他国家，但建立合作并与所有人和平共处的重要性对于马其顿国家和经济体这样的小国和小经济体来说是一个重大优势。
考虑到马其顿市场 它由 160 万活跃用户组成，该国为进出口元素保留了很大的空间。进出口是推动马其顿经济的 GDP 组成部分，与旅游业和农业一起作为附加领域。
可以带来一些潜在的更深入的经济联系的方面：
中国在帮助马其顿经济方面发挥着一定作用，不仅在贸易方面，而且在基础设施方面。建设一个适应 21 世纪的国家是马其顿政府的首要任务，尤其是两个非常重要的领域，例如“8 号走廊”，这是穿过阿尔巴尼亚、马其顿和保加利亚的公路和铁路运输走廊，连接保加利亚的瓦尔纳港，从黑海到亚得里亚海的都拉斯港。并且，这条链条连接到意大利，意大利是这条走廊内唯一的欧盟成员国。该走廊旨在促进巴尔干半岛的贸易和运输，连接亚得里亚海和黑海。以及“10 号走廊”，它是跨欧洲网络 （TEN） 的一部分，从塞尔维亚边境一直延伸到希腊边境。它连接了多个国家，包括奥地利、斯洛文尼亚、克罗地亚、塞尔维亚和希腊，并以其在促进巴尔干地区到中欧等地的运输和贸易方面的重要性而闻名。中国在这里看到了一个潜在的经济伙伴，可以帮助中国商品在相当短的时间内运送到中欧。
例如，在一些中国公司的基础设施项目的帮助下;Krupiste-Kocani 公路、Miladinovci-Stip 和 Kicevo-Ohrid 高速公路以及其他高速公路现在正在有效运营或正在建设中。由于中国已经向世界证明，建造复杂的高速公路、道路、隧道甚至大型水电站是一项可能的任务，因此中国-马其顿经济关系的未来可以通过基础设施、能源甚至新贸易方面的新项目来升级。
另一方面，旅游业是一个不容忽视的分支。自 2024 年 11 月 30 日起，中国外交部宣布将把免签证政策扩大到包括马其顿在内的另外 9 个国家。自 2024 年 11 月 30 日起，来自 38 个国家（包括另外 9 个国家）的普通护照持有人将能够免签证进入中国，办理商务、旅游、探亲访友、互访和过境签证，期限不超过 30 天。马其顿方面仍在考虑对中国公民的签证政策。如果我们考虑到马其顿被认为是欧洲大陆最便宜的国家之一，那么允许更多游客可以见证和探索马其顿的自然和文化遗产将是经济向前迈出的一步。
此外，马其顿已经与一些中国高等教育机构建立了学术合作。这是一个双方都可以为更深层次的联系开辟一些视野的领域，帮助中国和马其顿大学实现他们走向学术研究界的目标。一个将资源投入权力以教育本国公民的国家，对该国来说，结果将永远是积极的，不仅对其经济有利，而且对世界有利。
显然，人工智能行业是马其顿可以认真关注的地方，向中国学习这一过程，让中国成为这种类型先进技术的引领国。
有助于加强马其顿和中国之间经济关系的另一点是，如果两国都开设商会，一个在斯科普里，将得到中国驻马其顿大使馆的支持，另一个在北京也将得到马其顿驻中国大使馆的支持。这将是有意义的，以便两国开启一个新的贸易时代，并有机会在双方之间进行更多的外国直接投资。
相互合作的重点显然是获得更多的经验、学习、受益并为我们所有人保持一个更安全的地球。如今，一些国家被流传在世界各地的错误宣传所俘虏，这样只会孤立一个国家，给一个国家带来不利。未来应该是每个人都作为一个大团队工作，并为世界各地的人们提供便利。
作家：Bojana Jovanovska-西安交通大学金华研究院的研究员