Political consultations between Croatian and Chinese delegations held in Zagreb

State Secretary Hido Biščević headed the Croatian delegation at the political consultations, and deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zhang Yesui headed the Chinese delegation. At the Chinese delegation meeting with Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, both sides said they were pleased with the level of bilateral relations, and discussed the visit Prime Minister Ivo Sanader paid to the Republic of China not long ago, which was assessed as extremely successful.

Both sides found pleasure in the high level of bilateral relations and the fact that there are no remaining open issues. Republic of Croatia confirmed its support to China's politics, while the Republic of China provided support to Croatia on its path to the European Union, holding this would raise the level of bilateral relations, since China holds excellent relations with the European Union.

Both sides agreed bilateral relations should improve further, especially in the economic, technological, cultural, educational and scientific field. State secretary Biščević briefed the Chinese delegation on Croatia's activities so far, regarding the accession to the Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as on Croatia's relations with the other countries in the region. Both sides agreed on finding a political solution, as part of the Contact Group and the United Nations activities, to some open issues in the South-Eastern Europe (for example, to the problem of Kosovo), which is in the best interest of the stability in the South-Eastern Europe. Regarding the United Nations reform, both sides agree that a reform was necessary, since the existing system and the United Nations functioning mechanisms did not correspond to the current world situation. State Secretary Biščević stressed that the United Nations upcoming reform, especially the Security Council reform, should lead to equality of international relations, democracy, and the efficiency of the United Nations’ system itself, so that the reform issue should be approached with measure and balance.

The consultations discussed the current situation in Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and other issues, the solution to which asks for the engagement of the whole international community, and which include fighting against terrorism and organised crime.