First Croatian Foreign Minister in China Since 2005

Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusić began her official visit to China with a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Song Tao. This is Minister Pusić’s first official visit to an Asian country and the first time a Croatian foreign minister visited China since 2005.

Song said China placed great importance on this visit, particularly because of the deepening of bilateral cooperation and strengthening trade exchange. Pusić pointed out several priority projects in Croatia, ranging from infrastructure to the energy sector, adding that due to its size it was best Croatia focused on cooperating with a city or a region.

The two officials also discussed plans for a summit between China and 16 central and east European countries, scheduled for late November in Bucharest. Apart from the prime ministers meeting, a business forum will be held that could be of interest to Croatian companies. Pusić informed her host about Croatia’s potential in tourism as well, given the 400 million Chinese tourists that are interested among other things in cultural monuments and national parks, and are not focused solely on the summer months. Culture and education as well as student exchange are also areas of potential cooperation.

Song Tao, who is also Secretary General of China-Central and East Europe Cooperation Secretariat, visited Croatia last fall and held talks with Minister Pusić. Consultations between the two countries’ ministries of foreign affairs were also held on that occasion.  (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)