CRO DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS

ZAGREB, Sept 26 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Vesna Cvjetkovic-Kurelec on Monday in Beijing held talks with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and assistant minister Liu Guchang on relations between the two countries, international issues of mutual interest, the situation in regions and a concrete cooperation between foreign ministries. The Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday, both parties expressed satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, and which have been more than intensified since the establishment of new authorities in Croatia in January 2000. Deputy Minister Yang Jiechi stressed China appreciated the support Croatia was giving to the Chinese government, and added China believed Croatia was a very important factor of peace and stability in southern Europe. Cvjetkovic-Kurelec informed her Chinese colleague of Croatia's priorities in foreign policy and efforts it invested in the establishment of good neighbourly relations with all countries on the territory of the former Yugoslav federation. Cvjetkovic-Kurelec and Liu Guchang tackled concrete cooperation between the two countries in economy, education, culture and science. The officials concluded that the cooperation was successful in all fields but economy. China and Croatia are soon to sign a two-year agreement on cooperation in culture and education. The talks also focused on economic cooperation and trade exchange, with which both parties were dissatisfied. Apart from Beijing, the Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister is also to visit Xian and Shanghai and is to be received by senior Chinese officials. (hina) it