ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - All-round Croatian-Chinese relations are good but the big economic imbalance to Croatia's detriment should be corrected, President Stjepan Mesic told Hina on Friday, prior to his departure for China this
weekend.
ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - All-round Croatian-Chinese relations are
good but the big economic imbalance to Croatia's detriment should
be corrected, President Stjepan Mesic told Hina on Friday, prior to
his departure for China this weekend. #L#
During his Chinese trip, Mesic will meet President Jiang Zemin,
Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, and parliament president Li Peng.
"These days we are marking the tenth anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's
Republic of China and the Republic of Croatia. This means there was
not much hesitation on the Chinese side when Croatia stepped onto
the international scene," said Mesic.
China recognised Croatia and Slovenia on April 27, 1992. Joint
statements on the recognition were signed on May 13.
Mesic said Croatian-Chinese relations were good, but hoped they
would improve, especially in the economy. Croatia annually imports
US$142 million worth of Chinese goods while exporting US$2
million.
On the Chinese trip, Mesic will be accompanied by a Croatian
businessmen delegation.
Talks between Croatian and Chinese officials will focus on
bilateral relations, the situation in the region, and key global
issues.
"We will not skip global terrorism. I will once again take the
opportunity to point out that it can be fought by military force,
simultaneously with other means, which, in the long run, will make
it possible to eliminate the environment birthing terrorism in the
world," said Mesic.
Asked about Croatia's position regarding Taiwan, he said: "It is
very simple to answer this question. Croatia leads the 'one China'
policy, and it goes without saying that we shall pursue with this
policy."
Mesic dismissed the notion that China supported Yugoslavia more
than Croatia.
"If in some aspects of the international community's engagement in
the former Yugoslav area China and Croatia did not always share
equal or similar views, this doesn't mean that China was, or is,
inclined to Belgrade more than it is to Zagreb," said Mesic. It only
means that "China sometimes has a particular point of view of things
which happened or are happening in our region," he added.
Speaking about Croatia's European orientation, Mesic said that it
was not and must not be an obstacle to all-round cooperation with
states which are willing to cooperate in line with full equality and
to mutual benefit.
(hina) ha sb