China and Croatia Strengthen Bilateral Ties as Diplomatic Relations Approach 30-Year Mark

Strategic Insights -

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman held talks in Beijing on July 21, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between the two nations. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Croatia, as well as the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. The two ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening high-level exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and deepening cooperation in various fields. China and Croatia have made significant progress in their Belt and Road cooperation, achieving fruitful results and demonstrating the potential of their partnership.

Key Takeaways:

  • The two sides agree to enhance exchanges at all levels, increase mutual understanding and trust, and continue to firmly respect and support each other.
  • China and Croatia will strengthen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Croatia's development strategies and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
  • Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) is an important part of China-EU relations, and China is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with Croatia based on the principles of openness, transparency, and mutual benefit.
  • Croatia adheres to the one-China policy, believing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
  • Croatia looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China, strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, and other fields, and welcomes more Chinese citizens to visit Croatia.
  • China and Croatia agree to resolve specific differences through constructive dialogue and promote the sustained and stable development of EU-China relations.

Statistics:

  • 20 years of comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Croatia.
  • 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.
  • The Belt and Road Initiative has achieved fruitful results.
  • Croatia attaches great importance to and appreciates the key role played by China in promoting world peace.
  • China is an indispensable and important economic and trade partner of Europe.

Sources:

  • Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman's joint statement on July 21, 2025.
  • Xinhua News Agency's report on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's talks with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman in Beijing on July 21, 2025.