Remarks by Ambassador Xu Erwen at the Luncheon for Croatian Local Leaders

尊敬的克罗地亚各位省长、各位市长，

尊敬的克罗地亚总理高级顾问，

女士们，先生们：

　　大家中午好！

　　今天我很高兴在使馆为这么多克罗地亚地方领导人和总理高级经济顾问举办此次午餐会。首先，我谨代表中国驻克罗地亚使馆对大家的到来表示热烈欢迎，对各位长期以来对中克关系发展的支持以及对中国的关注表示感谢。

Respected Croatian Prefects and Mayors, 

Respected Senior Economic Advisor to Croatian Prime Minister,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dobra dan!

It is my pleasure and honour to host this luncheon today at our embassy in honour of Croatian prefects, mayors and senior economic advisor to Croatian Prime Minister. First of all, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you on behalf of our embassy. I want to express my appreciation to all the friends present here today for your support to the development of China and Croatia relationship and for your interest in China.

　　我了解到，在座的各位省长和市长即将访华，而且多数是首次访问中国。上周，我向部分即将赴华访问的克省市长们介绍了中国发展和中克关系有关情况。今天，我也愿借此宝贵机会向大家介绍中克关系和中国的发展。

I am very pleased to know that many of you are going to visit China soon but most of you have never been to China before. Last week, I talked about China and Croatia relationship and China with some prefects who are going to China as well. Before you kick off your visit to China, I would like to take this precious opportunity to give you a briefing about China and the opportunities we are faced in our bilateral relationship and cooperation as well.

　　今年是中克建交27周年。27年来，两国关系在相互尊重、平等互利基础上取得快速发展，双边政治互信和传统友谊得到进一步巩固，全面合作伙伴关系不断深化。两国高层往来频繁，去年普连科维奇总理赴华出席首届中国国际进口博览会，今年4月，李克强总理访克并出席第八次中国-中东欧国家领导人会晤，推动中克关系步入新阶段。目前，两国关系正处在历史最好时期之一，铸造出钻石般的友谊。

This year is the 27th anniversary of the establishment of China and Croatia diplomatic relationship. Over the past 27 years China-Croatia bilateral relationship based on mutual respect, equality and benefit has maintained strong momentum. Our political mutual trust and traditional friendship have been greatly strengthened and the Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership significantly deepened. Both countries have enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges of visits. Last year, Prime Minister Mr. Andrej Plenkovic paid a successful official visit to China for the 1st China International Import Expo. This April, Premier Li Keqiang visited Croatia and attended the 8th Summit of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries, which upgraded the relationship into a new level. Now this relationship has entered one of the best period in history and our friendship is diamond-like.

　　两国务实合作快速发展。2018年，中克贸易额约10亿欧元，同比增长16.2%。中国路桥集团承建的佩列沙茨大桥，实现中克大项目合作的历史性突破，并成为中克欧三方合作的典范。今年4月，华为公司与克数字社会发展办公室签署两项合作谅解备忘录。此外，骆驼集团投资里马茨公司、北方国际投资塞尼风电等也是两国经贸合作重要组成部分。

　　两国人文交流再谱新篇。2018年，中国到克游客人数约24万，同比增长超过40%，今年这一数字还将再创新高。克罗地亚已成为中国游客到访中东欧最受欢迎的旅游目的地之一。今年也是中克文化和旅游年，双方举办了一系列丰富多彩的交流活动，为两国民心相通提供了多样平台。

The economic cooperation between our two countries has been growing quickly. Last year, the bilateral trade reached close to 1 billion Euro, with an increase of 16.2%. The Peljesac Bridge being built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, marks a historic breakthrough in the cooperation between our two countries, and also creates a model of trilateral cooperation among China, Croatia and EU. This April, Huawei signed two memorandums of understanding with Croatian Central State Office for Digital Society Development. In addition, China Camel Group invested in Rimac, China Norinco International invested in Senj wind power project, which is the largest wind power project in Croatia, all of which are important elements of economic and trade cooperation between our two countries.

The story of bilateral people-to-people exchange is writing a new chapter. In 2018, the number of visitors from China to Croatia reached around 240,000, with a more than 40% year-on-year growth. This year this figure will hit a new high. Croatia is becoming one of the most popular destinations among Central and Eastern European countries for Chinese tourists. This year is also China and Croatia Year of Culture and Tourism with a series of wonderful events and activities, which provided various platforms for closer people-to-people ties between our two countries.