First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Integration Vesna Pusić received outgoing Chinese Ambassador, H.E. Shen Zhifei. The talks focused on the foreign minister’s recent visit to China, which the interlocutors described as a confirmation of excellent bilateral relations. Pusić said Croatia would focus on cities such as Shanghai, which has been a twin city of Zagreb for more than 30 years. She underscored the importance of developing a project which would identify potential obstacles so as to facilitate doing business not just with Croatia but with other EU member states as well. At the same time, such a project would bring Croatia closer to Chinese business people and highlight its advantages as an EU member state.
Talking about cooperation between China and 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the interlocutors agreed that it formed a part of the EU-China relations, while the Chinese ambassador said that the talks between Croatian and Chinese prime ministers in Bucharest would contribute to the further advancement of relations.
Pusić underlined the vast potential of tourism cooperation, which also contributes to a better understanding and ultimately easier way of doing business. She added that apart from major projects there was a potential for cooperation through small and medium sized entrepreneurship, given that Hong Kong can serve as its gateway to the Chinese market.