CROATIAN-CHINESE ECONOMIC FORUM HELD AT ZAGREB FAIR

ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - Croatian-Chinese trade grows every year but is still small, although the potential for its advancement is great, it was said at the Croatian-Chinese Economic Forum held as part of the Zagreb International Autumn Fair on Wednesday. #L# China's participation in the 78th annual fair should boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, as should direct contacts and talks between Croatian and Chinese businessmen. Last year Croatian-Chinese trade was close to US$150 million, which is merely 0.03 of China's foreign trade, Deputy Foreign Minister Long Yongtu said. Croatian export to China amounted to US$2.1 million, while import exceeded US$144 million. Long said Chinese customers were not familiar with Croatian product, but that the fact that trade with the European Union accounted for more than 50 percent of Croatia's foreign trade indicates that Croatia has a competitive product. It has been agreed that Croatia should stage a showcase in China similar to China's current one at the Zagreb Fair, the chairman of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, said. He added that Croatia, with its five international ports with free zones, could be the launching pad for China's ventures in the region. China's population of some 1.5 billion is evidence of the importance and size of its market. China's Gross Domestic Product in 2001 was US$1.1 billion, an increase of seven percent as against 2000, while foreign trade exceeded US$500 billion. In this year's first half foreign trade reached US$270.7 billion, with US$142 billion made in export and US$128.6 billion in import. Today's Croatian-Chinese Economic Forum was organised by the Chinese Embassy in Croatia and the HGK. Representatives of more than 40 Chinese food, textile, pharmaceutical, and electronic companies took part in direct talks with Croatian counterparts. (hina) ha sb