On October 17, 2026 local time, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Zagreb.
Plenković asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to the Chinese leadership and expressed his hope to visit China at an early date and meet with Chinese leaders. Plenković stated that Croatia-China relations are steadily improving, with mutual respect and sincere cooperation serving as an important foundation. Chinese enterprises have carried out infrastructure construction in Croatia, including roads, bridges, and tunnels, such as the iconic Pelješac Bridge, which has played an important role in enhancing connectivity among different regions of Croatia. Croatia deeply appreciates this and welcomes Chinese enterprises to continue participating in Croatia’s national development. Croatia is ready to further expand cooperation in fields such as tourism, photovoltaics, and wind power, welcomes the opening of direct flights between Croatia and China, and looks forward to strengthened exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.
Plenković stated that Croatia attaches great importance to cooperation with China under the China-CEEC framework and the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to continue to make efforts to this end. He looks forward to the early resumption of the CEEC-China leaders’ meeting mechanism with China, which will create new opportunities for closer high-level exchanges between the two sides.
Wang Yi conveyed the good wishes of the Chinese leadership to Plenković and welcomed him to visit China at a mutually convenient time. Wang Yi stated that China was one of the first major countries to establish diplomatic relations with Croatia. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, bilateral relations have maintained sound, steady, and sustainable development. The two sides have treated each other with sincerity on the basis of mutual respect and have established a mature, long-term comprehensive cooperative partnership. This is the right choice made by both sides, and China is ready to further elevate the positioning of bilateral relations on this basis.
Wang Yi stated that the purpose of his visit was to convey several messages to the Croatian side: First, China cherishes its traditional friendship with Croatia and is willing to translate it into a strong driving force for bilateral relations in the new era. Second, China respects the choices of the Croatian people and Croatia’s governance model, and is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to support each other’s development and revitalization. Third, China values people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Croatia and has introduced measures, including unilateral visa-free access and direct flights, to facilitate travel and enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples. Fourth, China firmly believes that China and the EU are partners, not rivals. China supports European integration and Croatia's efforts to achieve faster development through this process, and hopes Croatia will play a constructive role in deepening China-EU cooperation.
Wang Yi stated that China and Central and Eastern European countries have a practical need to strengthen exchanges and advance cooperation. Cooperation between the two sides is entirely open and transparent and also helps advance the process of European integration. China is ready to strengthen cooperation in various fields within the mechanism with regional countries that are willing to participate. China appreciates Croatia’s positive attitude in this regard and is ready to take next year’s 15th anniversary of the mechanism as an opportunity to reinvigorate China-CEEC mutually beneficial cooperation.
The two sides exchanged views on China-EU economic and trade relations. Plenković stated that EU countries, including Croatia, have concerns about trade imbalances. At the recent EU summit, all parties spoke positively of the consensus reached through the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism and expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to strengthen communication and dialogue to properly handle differences.
Wang Yi stated that the China-EU trade issue is caused by the international division of labor and market demand. The EU’s import of high-quality and affordable goods from China benefits EU citizens, curbs inflation, and reflects the objective demand of the European market; there is no so-called “overcapacity” problem. China is ready to import more high-value-added European products and hopes the EU will relax its export restrictions to China. China is willing to promote economic and trade relations toward upward rather than downward balancing, forward rather than backward development, and to make the pie bigger rather than smaller. China is ready to strengthen dialogue with the EU in the spirit of equality and mutual benefit, jointly uphold the banner of free trade, and advance open and inclusive economic globalization.
Plenković gave a briefing on the current situation in the Western Balkans. Wang Yi stated that China does not interfere in the internal affairs of regional countries and hopes that all countries will enhance understanding, rebuild mutual trust, and live in harmony through dialogue. China is ready to play a constructive role in accordance with the needs of regional countries.
