President Grabar-Kitarovic arrives in Beijing.
Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has arrived in the People’s Republic of China for an official visit, at the invitation of Chinese president Xi Jinping, reports Vecernji List on October 15, 2015. The visit began with a ceremonial welcome at Tiananmen Square. After the welcoming ceremony, a bilateral meeting between the two delegations was held. Croatian president said that the visit will deepen the mutual friendship. It takes place in a new context – Croatia is now a member of the EU and NATO, and “in these organizations, China now has another firm friend”, said the president. She expressed her confidence that the next Croatian government will continue to strengthen Croatian-Chinese partnership, especially in the economy, which she will strongly encourage.
President Xi said that the Croatian president has shown friendship towards Chinese people since taking office and has actively promoted the strengthening of relations. He added that he was confident that the visit will give a new impetus to bilateral relations. Comparing his program “Chinese Dream” with the president’s program “For Better Croatia”, president Xi expressed his belief that “Croatia, led by the president, will achieve even greater success on its path of development”.
He added that the forthcoming meeting of the Croatian president in Shanghai with representatives of the Chinese business community and Croatian companies operating in China confirms the importance of the visit, as well as the future of the Croatian-Chinese economic relations. He expressed willingness to talk about increasing imports of Croatian goods to the Chinese market.
President Xi said that Croatia is an important country for the Chinese initiative “One Belt, One Road”, as well as for strengthening of China’s cooperation with the countries of Central Europe, as part of the initiative “China +16”, with particular emphasis on energy and transport. He also welcomed Croatian president’s initiative “Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea”.
The two presidents agreed that bilateral cooperation between Croatia and China is very good in many areas, particularly in culture, tourism, science and education, both at national and at regional and local levels. Croatian president expressed her satisfaction with the large increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Croatia, as well as with the increase in the number of cultural events which bring the richness of Chinese culture closer to Croatian citizens.
The presidents agreed on numerous key issues on the international agenda, such as sustainable development and climate change, the growth of terrorism and migrant crisis. President Xi accepted the invitation to visit Croatia.
President Grabar-Kitarović will meet tomorrow with Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang, have a working lunch with the principal coordinator of the initiative “China +16” and deputy foreign minister Wang Chao, and visit the research centre of the Chinese company Huawei.
