ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 – Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, who started his visit to China on Sunday, met with the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Li Zhanshu, in Beijing on Monday, the Croatian parliament said in a statement.
Jandroković and Li confirmed that the two countries relations were traditionally friendly and based on partnership.
It was said that the visit of the Croatian parliament speaker built on the political dialogue of the highest level, confirmed by Chinese Premier Li Kequiang’s visit to Croatia earlier this year.
The two officials expressed satisfaction with their countries’ very good and developed cooperation in a number of areas, from trade and science to culture and sports.
They also expressed satisfaction with the regular exchange of official visits by parliamentary delegations, with Jandroković inviting Li to pay an official visit to Croatia.
The Croatian official underlined the importance of Croatia’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the 17+1 project, noting that a successful summit meeting was held as part of the initiative and the project in Dubrovnik in April.
Jandroković said that one of the key events in the strengthening of Croatia-China relations and trust was the construction of the Pelješac bridge by China Road and Bridge Corporation.
He said the project was very important for Croatia considering that the bridge would connect Croatian territory, thus connecting EU territory.
Li, who visited Croatia in 2012, said that even though far away from each other, the two countries had close relations and that China considered Croatia one of the most important partners in the EU and Southeast and Central Europe.
The two officials also expressed satisfaction with a steady rise in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Croatia, expressing confidence that tourist cooperation would be additionally intensified, with the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) and Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) offices in Shanghai playing an important role in that.
Speaking of Croatia’s participation in the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Jandroković said he was happy that this year the HGK had its own exhibition area at the event and that a Croatian-Chinese business forum would be held, with Croatian companies presenting their products, services, technologies and ideas.
Jandroković said that both sides were very satisfied with the high level of overall bilateral relations.
More news about relations between Croatia and China can be found in the Politics section.
