In the afternoon of May 20 local time, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Wu Bangguo who was paying an official goodwill visit to Croatia met in hotel with mayor of Dubrovnik Andro Vlahusic.

Wu said that local cooperation is a major force for the development of relations between nations. The Chinese government supports the active and practical cooperation at local levels between the two countries so as to promote the bilateral economic and trade exchanges and enhance the friendship between the two peoples. When he met with the Croatian leaders, both sides agreed to give top priority to strengthening the bilateral practical cooperation and one important aspect is to reinforce tourism cooperation. Dubrovnik is a famous historic and cultural city. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and enjoys unique tourism resources and rich tourism management experience. During the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the Chinese visitors were deeply impressed by Dubrovnik's scenery displayed in the Croatian Pavilion. The bilateral tourism cooperation has great potential. He hopes Dubrovnik actively explores developing friendship with related Chinese provinces and cities, strengthen image promotion in the Chinese market, attract more Chinese tourists, boost the bilateral exchanges of business, education, culture and city management at local levels and make contributions to promoting the mutual understanding and consolidating the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

Vlahusic extended sincere welcome to Wu Bangguo and said that the Dubrovnik people always have friendly feeling for the Chinese people, sincerely expect to further deepen exchanges with the Chinese cities, strengthen pragmatic cooperation in the fields of business, tourism and culture, boost the economic and social development and inject vigor into the bilateral relations.

Wu and his wife Zhang Ruizhen left Zagreb and arrived at Dubrovnik by special plane in the morning of May 20 local time. Parliament Speaker Sprem and other senior Croatian officials bid farewell to Wu in the airport before he left Zagreb. Upon arrival at Dubrovnik, mayor of Dubrovnik and deputy governor of Dubrovnik-Neretva received Wu at the airport. Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the NPC Standing Committee Li Jianguo arrived by the same plane.