CROATIAN ECONOMY MINISTER LEAVES FOR CHINA ON SUNDAY

ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - A Croatian state delegation, led by Economy Minister Nenad Porges, will be on a working visit to China from 7 to 11 November at the invitation of the Chinese ministry of foreign trade and economic cooperation. According to a statement from the Croatian Economy Ministry, included in the programme of the visit is also the sixth session of a Croatian-Chinese committee for economic cooperation. Minister Porges will meet his counterpart Shi Guansheng, his deputy Zhou Keren, a Vice Premier Wu Yi, Beijing Mayor Liu Qin and the vice president of the Chinese chamber of commerce, An Chengxin. The Croatian state delegation, which includes officials from the ministries of economy, foreign affairs and tourism, the Chamber of Commerce and the Employers' Association, will be accompanied by Croatian business people. Topics to be discussed at meetings with Chinese colleagues are power production, pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, and engineering, textile and shipbuilding industries. The annual trade between the two countries in 1998 amounted to more than US$70 million, which is only 0.54 per cent of the overall trade between Croatia and foreign countries. (hina) rml