CHINA AND CROATIA PROMOTE COOPERATION

BEIJING, Feb 19 (Hina) - Croatian-Chinese cooperation and its promotion were the main topics of Wednesday's meeting between Croatian Ambassador in Beijing, Branimir Strenja, and the general director of Chinese Foreign Ministry department for eastern European and central Asian countries, Zhou Xiaopei. The recently-appointed general director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry department, Xiaopei, and Ambassador Strenja said that the Chinese-Croatian relations were on the ascending line. It was proved by the fact that Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Croatian Parliament Speaker, Vlatko Pavletic and other high-ranking officials had visited China last year. The Croatian side also sent several standing invitations to Croatian senior officials to visit Croatia. Ambassador Strenja and Zhou also discussed plans for cooperation in this year, including political contacts and the furthering of economic and cultural cooperation. (hina) jn mš 191955 MET feb 97