On 14th September, the seminar "New Idea, New opportunity, New Development - celebration of the the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Croatia", hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Croatia, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and organized by the China Center for Contemporary World Studies and Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, was held at the National Hall of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

　　Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Croatia H.E. Mr. Hu Zhaoming, Deputy director of the Center for Contemporary World Studies Mr Yongquan Xu, former President of the Republic of Croatia Mr Stjepan Mesić, President of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts Mr Zvonko Kusić and Assistant Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Mr Vice Skračić respectively delivered speech. Experts and scholars from the Center for Contemporary World Studies, China Region Development and Reform Institute, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Institute for Development and International Relations, and other academic institutions, think-tanks have exchanged their views in depth on the two main topics of China-Croatia relations, namely, the New Idea - China and Croatia leaders' idea on governing the country and the New Opportunity and New Development -Belt and Road initiative. The participants jointly discussed the China-Croatia relations and its future development and actively offered their suggestions and advices. Almost 80 participants from both China and Croatia side attended the Seminar.

　　H.E. Ambassador Hu in his keynote speech ''With the New idea as the lead, let China-Croatia relations realize 'overtaking at the curve''' pointed out that this year is very important for China-Croatia relations, as well as China. This year is the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Croatia. Moreover, in less than one month, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be held in Beijing. China has already become the world's second largest economy and this Congress will have significant and long lasting influence on China and even the whole world. On this occasion, It is of positive significance now that the scholars and experts from the two countries discuss on the topic of the ''New Idea, New Opportunity, New Development'', with the emphasis on the impact of the guiding and motivating role that the Chinese leader's new idea, new thought, new strategy have on China and China-Croatia relations.

　　H.E. Ambassador Hu summed up the first impressions Croatia left on him, retrospected the positive progress China-Croatia relationship has achieved in the last 25 years and said both sides should take the celebration for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Croatia as the new starting point and we should seize the rare historical opportunity to promote faster and better developments of bilateral relationship so as to achieve 'overtaking at the curve'. Primarily, we have to make a good use of the platforms of ''Belt and Road Initiative'' and ''16+1'' cooperation and bring new vitality to bilateral relations. Secondly, we must keep up with and grasp e-commerce, sharing economy and other new economy trends and strive to expand coherence point of the economic cooperation between the two countries; Thirdly, we need to actively explore the potential for cooperation on regional level and to create the new point of growth for development of China-Croatia relations.

　　H. E. Ambassador Hu emphasized that to realize the 'overtaking at the curve' , mutual learning about the new concept of governing country is crucial. Chinese President Xi Jinping's ”people-centered” development philosophy is the important part of the new idea, new thought, new strategy, which are leading the economic and social development of China and also have the guiding significance for the Chinese diplomacy, including the development of China-Croatia relationship. Broader masses of the two countries need to participate in the process of the friendly relationship between China and Croatia. Our goal is also to bring more benefits to the two people.

　　Participants positively evaluated Ambassador Hu's speech, praised Xi Jinping's ”people-centered” development philosophy, said that they would pay close attention to 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, learn development experience from China in order to offer new thoughts and new motivation for the development of Croatia. Croatian national television, national news agency, as well as Chinese Xinhua agency and European Times and other Chinese and foreign media covered the event and made positive reports about the seminar.