TIRANA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Albania has the support of Poland in opening the European Union (EU) accession negotiations, the visiting Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said at a joint news conference with Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati on Monday.

Albania should continue the reforms as well as cooperate with the EU member countries that support the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, Czaputowicz added.

The Polish minister praised the reformation efforts of Albania and underlined that Poland is a strong advocate of EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans.

"EU has become embroiled in an ongoing debate on EU enlargement, yet there are phenomena such as skepticism rooted in the migratory crisis. These voices are doing the utmost to inhibit accession. In EU, countries like Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland support EU enlargement," emphasized Czaputowicz.

Bushati thanked Czaputowicz for the support that Poland has provided to Albania down the path to EU accession.

Bushati said Albania and Poland are NATO members and their stands are in the same line when it comes to challenges facing the Alliance.

The two counterparts discussed as well on the development of economic relations and exchange of goods between the two countries.

During his official visit later in the day, Czaputowicz also had a meeting with Albanian President Ilir Meta.