Wang Yi visit highlights expanding China-Croatia economic cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded a two-day visit to Croatia on Saturday, with talks in Zagreb focusing on bilateral relations, trade, investment and opportunities to expand cooperation into new economic sectors.

The visit was the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Croatia in 33 years and came ahead of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.

Wang first met President Zoran Milanović on Friday. Both sides expressed satisfaction with bilateral cooperation and discussed raising relations to a higher level. Milanović reaffirmed Croatia's one-China policy, while Wang said Beijing was ready to consider further upgrading the comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Wang later held talks with Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman. Economic cooperation was the focus of their talks, with both sides highlighting infrastructure and renewable energy while also discussing opportunities in transport, logistics, automotive manufacturing and tourism.

Wang proposed expanding cooperation into ports, communications, artificial intelligence and nuclear energy. His Croatian counterpart Grlić Radman stressed opportunities to increase Croatian exports to China and welcomed the recently established Beijing-Bucharest-Zagreb air connection.

On Saturday, Wang met Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Their talks again focused on strengthening economic and trade ties and connecting Croatian and Chinese companies. Plenković emphasised increasing the presence of Croatian businesses in the Chinese market.

Chinese companies are now involved in several major projects  in Croatia. These include the Kozjak tunnel and Vučevica connecting road and the Brestovac-Godinjak expressway. The Senj wind farm and the Korlat solar power plant, Croatia's largest solar facility, were recently completed and are now fully operational.

The two countries also discussed relations between China and the European Union and international issues, including Ukraine, the Middle East and the Western Balkans. Wang said China and Europe should resolve differences through dialogue, while Croatian officials advocated stable and mutually beneficial EU-China relations.

The meetings on Friday and Saturday were focused on identified areas for the next phase of cooperation and reaffirmed existing political and economic ties.

With diplomatic relations approaching their 35th anniversary, both sides signalled an intention to build on completed infrastructure and energy projects while widening cooperation into technology, transport, renewable energy and stronger two-way trade in coming years.