On the evening of May 19 local time, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Wu Bangguo who was paying an official goodwill visit to Croatia attended the reception to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Croatia in Zagreb and delivered a speech.
At dusk, the Crystal Hall of Zagreb Westin Hotel was shining brightly and filled with a friendly atmosphere. Wu and his wife Zhang Ruizhen shook hands cordially with President Josipovic, Parliament Speaker Sprem and other distinguished Croatian guests and entered the hall together with them.
At 18:30, the national anthems of China and Croatia were played. Wu delivered a speech amid warm applauses. He first of all reviewed the development course and achievements of China-Croatia relations and stressed that China-Croatia relations can be said as the role model of mutual respect, harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different civilizations and social systems. Wu pointed out that standing at a new starting point of the 20th anniversary of China-Croatia diplomatic ties we must continue to respect each other, treat each other as equals, engage in win-win cooperation and raise the comprehensive partnership between the two countries to higher levels and wider areas. We should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, conduct dialogue and exchanges extensively between the governments, parliaments and political parties on the two sides and extend valuable support for each other on major issues involving each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, stability and development. We should reinforce communications and coordination in the international and regional affairs, coordinate our position in a timely manner on such global issues as the UN reform, global economic governance, climate change and energy and resource security and work to build a regional and international environment conducive to peace and development. We should attach importance to and strengthen friendly exchanges between the two people, especially the youth from a strategic perspective, further expand the bilateral local and non-governmental cooperation and consolidate the social and people foundation of the development of relations between the two countries.
Wu stressed that given the reality of the development of China-Croatia relations the two sides should start from deepening economic and trade cooperation in order to promote the in-depth development of the comprehensive partnership. This is both the common aspiration of the two peoples and the source of vitality of the bilateral relations. There exists no political obstacle to the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. On the contrary, sound political relations will boost the continued development of economic and trade relations. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has already built certain basis. In particular, the trade and investment agreements signed between the two governments have created an enabling environment for both sides to expand economic and trade cooperation. More importantly, we should be aware that both countries are in a critical stage of accelerating development and have distinctive economic complementarities. This will create new opportunities for businesses of both sides to deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation. We must make best use of these favorable conditions and existing cooperation mechanisms, strengthen the planning and guidance on the bilateral practical cooperation, boost cooperation on infrastructure, project contracting and tourism, actively help enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones to cooperate, support and encourage enterprises to expand mutual investment, cultivate new growth points of economic and trade cooperation, enhance the balanced growth of bilateral trade, try to make substantive breakthroughs of bilateral cooperation and lay down a solid foundation and inject endless vigor for the all-round development of the bilateral relations.
President Josipovic and Parliament Speaker Sprem delivered warm and friendly speeches. They said that Croatia-China friendly and cooperative relations have gained long-term progress since the two countries established diplomatic ties 20 years ago. Croatia will officially join the EU next year, which will create more space for the comprehensive partnership between China and Croatia. The Croatian side appreciates the help and support China has provided over the years, expects to further step up pragmatic cooperation with China for win-win outcomes and believes the bilateral relations will enjoy a better tomorrow.
More than 200 friendly personnel from China and Croatia, including Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the NPC Standing Committee Li Jianguo and the first deputy parliament speaker of Croatia Leko attended the reception. Chinese Ambassador to Croatia Shen Zhifei chaired the reception.