Distinguished Guests,

Dear Fellow Compatriots and Friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to gather with you to welcome the auspicious Year of the Horse. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Croatia, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to friends from all sectors of Croatian society, to the Chinese community in Croatia, to staff of Chinese enterprises, as well as to teachers and overseas students. I also wish to convey my sincere regards to all friends who care about and support the development of China–Croatia relations. May the Year of the Horse bring you success in your endeavors, harmony and happiness to your families, and good fortune and prosperity in your lives.

The Past year ,2025,was truly remarkable. First, Chinese modernization is making steady and solid progress. Amidst a volatile and transformative global landscape fraught with heightened uncertainties, China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China, is advancing high-quality economic development, thereby contributing stability both domestically and to the wider world. China’s GDP has surpassed 140 trillion yuan (approximately 20 trillion U.S. dollars), achieving a year-on-year growth of 5 percent. Looking forward, China has formulated its 15th Five-Year Plan, charting a grand blueprint for development over the next five years. Scientific and technological innovation in China has achieved prominent results, consolidating the country’s advantages in traditional manufacturing while making substantive breakthroughs in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, and energy transformation. At the same time, efforts to enhance people’s well-being continue to strengthen. Medical insurance coverage now reaches over 1.33 billion people, and average life expectancy has risen to 79 years.

Second, in the face of a complex and dynamic international environment, China’s foreign policy aims to safeguard world peace and promote international cooperation. China is committed to being a stabilizing, peace-promoting, progressive, and open force in this turbulent world. We firmly support multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and are resolute in upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the fundamental norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We firmly support free trade and will work together to advance universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We adhere to the principle of win-win cooperation to jointly make the pie bigger and address development challenges. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping last year provides a Chinese approach to tackling the common challenges facing the world. Regarding the Ukraine crisis, China believes the priority is to achieve an early ceasefire and the realization of peace. We stand ready to play a constructive and positive role, we welcome all efforts conducive to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, and look forward to achieving a comprehensive, lasting, and binding peace agreement that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures enduring peace and security in Europe.

Last, and most important, the bilateral relations between China and Croatia continue to deepen. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Croatia relations have maintained a positive momentum. High-level exchanges have strengthened political mutual trust. Croatian Foreign Minister Mr. Gordan Grlić Radman successfully visited China, marking the first official visit at the foreign minister level in 12 years. The two sides engaged in discussions on enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, energy transformation, and infrastructure development. Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr.  Marko Primorac attended the Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in China. Zagreb Mayor Mr. Tomislav Tomašević visited Shanghai. Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Yin Hejun visited Croatia, and the Special Representative of the Chinese government on European Affairs, Ambassador Lu Shaye, attended the Dubrovnik Forum. China-Croatia economic and trade cooperation has yielded substantial results. The two countries signed a protocol on the export of Croatian tuna to China, representing the latest achievement in their ongoing efforts to advance trade cooperation. Chinese enterprises, including China Road and Bridge Corporation, Norinco International Cooperation Ltd, China Energy Engineering Group Jiangsu Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Huawei, Xiaomi, and BYD, have made positive progress in their operations in Croatia. People-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Croatia are flourishing. The Ministry of Education of China and the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth renewed their educational cooperation plan, promoting talent cultivation and exchanges among the youth of both countries. Tourism exchanges have shown steady growth, and the sixth joint patrol between Chinese and Croatian police was successfully concluded. The documentary series What’s up Kina, directed by renowned Croatian producer Mr. Goran Milić, has been widely broadcast on Croatian television, significantly increasing the Croatian public’s interest in learning about China. China’s visa-free policy for holders of ordinary Croatian passports has been extended for another year, further enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. We sincerely welcome more Croatian citizens to visit China.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

In mid-February next month, we will welcome the Year of the Horse in the 2026 lunar calendar. In traditional Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes relentless striving, self-improvement, resilience, and unwavering courage. Let us harness the boldness of the horse, ignite its vitality, and sustain its diligence to advance cooperation between China and Croatia and contribute to world peace and development. I wish you all good health, success in all endeavors, and a galloping spirit to achieve new glories.

Thank you.