In the afternoon of May 19 local time, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Wu Bangguo who was paying an official goodwill visit to Croatia met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic in the presidential residence.

Wu first of all conveyed President Hu Jintao's cordial greetings to Josipovic. The latter expressed gratitude and asked Wu to convey his best wishes to Hu.

Wu said that this is his first visit to Croatia. During the past two days, he conducted good meetings and talks with the Croatian leaders, extensively approached the Croatian people from all walks of life and felt deeply that the traditional friendship between China and Croatia, under the direct support of leaders of both countries, has gained long-term progress. First, the bilateral relations enjoy a solid political basis. The two countries always fully understand and firmly support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. The successive governments of Croatia take the development of relations with China as the priority of diplomatic policy, firmly pursue the one-China policy and have extended long-term valuable support to China on issues related with Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and human rights. China respects Croatia to select the development path and internal and external policies suitable to its national conditions and would like to congratulate Croatia on the major progress it has achieved in the course of European integration. After Croatia joins the EU in July next year, China will have another reliable good friend in the EU. Second, China and Croatia enjoy huge potential of economic and trade cooperation. Croatia has a superior location, boasts abundant forest and water resources, has developed industries of tourism, shipbuilding and pharmaceuticals and a number of competent and creditable enterprises. Last year, China's outbound non-financial direct investment exceeded US$60 billion and outbound tourists reached 70 million person times. Both sides should give top priority to developing the mutually beneficial cooperation in order to deepen the bilateral ties, make full use of the bilateral economic and trade joint committee and other cooperation mechanisms, strengthen planning coordination and broaden cooperation areas, especially in the fields of infrastructure construction, two-way investment and tourism. The Chinese side supports domestic companies to invest and develop business and actively participate in the construction of port, railway and power station in Croatia and encourages its citizens to travel to Croatia. Third, the momentum of bilateral cultural exchanges is strong. The biggest advantage of developing the bilateral relations between China and Croatia is the profound friendship between the two peoples and people-to-people contacts have become a major highlight of the bilateral relations. He hopes the two sides continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, tourism and sports, enhance the mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the young people and pass on the bilateral friendship from generation to generation.

Josipovic thanked Wu for visiting Croatia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Croatia-China diplomatic ties. He said that this visit will significantly push forward the bilateral relations. Both countries are committed to developing the peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations. Croatia highly appreciates China's foreign policy of peace, sincerely admires China's huge achievements of economic and social development and is willing to keep high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation at all levels, deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure construction and tourism and push forward the bilateral comprehensive partnership. He reiterated that Croatia firmly pursues the one-China policy.

In the morning, Wu and his wife Zhang Ruizhen, accompanied by Croatian Parliament Speaker Sprem and his wife, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute of the University of Zagreb, held cordial exchanges with the teachers and students and encouraged them to contribute to China-Croatia friendship. After the ceremony ended, Wu also visited the Zagreb City Museum.

In the afternoon, Wu especially visited a Croatian transformer plant. It is said that the plant is Europe's fourth largest electrical products manufacturer and its products involve power, motorcycles, home appliances and other fields. It entered the Chinese market in 2005 and set up a joint venture in China producing transformers. Wu visited the production workshop, asked detailed questions on product R&D and sales and expressed wish that it will expand cooperation with related Chinese companies for win-win outcomes.

Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the NPC Standing Committee Li Jianguo attended the above activities.