MESIC: CROATIAN ECONOMY YET TO DISCOVER CHINESE MARKET

XI'AN May 15 (Hina) - China has a great potential and a huge market which the Croatian economy is yet to discover, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic told Croatian reporters on Wednesday. #L# On the third day of his state visit to China, Mesic visited Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province, where he spoke with the province's governor. Mesic said that with its ports Croatia could serve China as a doorway to the European market. "We do not have any open political questions with China and the basis for a better co-operation certainly exists," he said, emphasising that the two countries should be developing their economic as well as other relations. The current trade between Beijing and Zagreb indicates a huge imbalance to Croatia's detriment. Mesic estimated that interest in improving co-operation existed on both sides and concluded that Croatia needed to gear itself towards exports. (hina) sp sb