Chinese vice president pledges closer ties with Croatia

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Monday that China is willing to enhance cooperation with Croatia to lift bilateral ties to a new height.

"China will make joint efforts with Croatia to expand pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in such areas as trade, tourism and culture to promote bilateral comprehensive and cooperative partnership," said Xi while meeting with Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic.

China-Croatia relationship has seen sound development in the past years, and Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Croatia in June inserted strong impetus into China-Croatia relationship, Xi said.

Jandrokovic is paying an official visit to China from Feb. 28 to March 4 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Xi said China appreciates the Croatian government's adherence to one-China policy and understands Croatia's efforts to be part of the process of European integration.

Jandrokovic welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest in Croatia's infrastructure programs, saying Croatia and China enjoy potentials for trade cooperation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Jandrokovic later on Monday and both sides hailed smooth development of bilateral ties and expressed the hope to further cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, tourism and culture.

They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern.

Source:Xinhua