BEIJING, Feb 5 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic arrived in China for an official visit Monday and had talks with his Chinese counterpart Qian Qichen.
BEIJING, Feb 5 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic arrived
in China for an official visit Monday and had talks with his Chinese
counterpart Qian Qichen. #L#
In his welcome address Qian Qichen recalled the visit by
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to China and spoke of "deep
impressions" he had after his own visit to Croatia.
Granic and Qian discussed bilateral political and economic ties,
regional questions and some issues related to global international
relations.
"What is particularly important for us is China's firm support
to Croatia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including
reintegration of the eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Syrmium
area to Croatian legal system," Granic told Croatian reporters after
the meeting.
"On its part, Croatia would support Chinese reintegration of
Hong Kong and Macao, in line with earlier agreements, as well as
Taiwan, as regards the principle one China -- two political systems,"
he added.
The political talks showed no major differences, he said.
The talks covered issues such normalization of ties between
Zagreb and Belgrade, which was supported by China. Qian said China
was willing to take active part in the process, as well as in the
process of implementation of Dayton and Paris accords.
Granic and Qian also agreed on further cooperation between the
two countries in the U.N. Security Council.
Speaking of succession of former Yugoslavia's assets, both
ministers agreed that the process should be speeded up. Granic
stressed that China shared the view that the assets should remain
blocked until convenient solutions are reached.
The ministers agreed that economic cooperation between the two
countries might be boosted, although the last year's trade --
totaling U.S. dlrs 571 million -- was the China's largest with any
former Yugoslavia's successor country.
"China respects Croatia's consistent foreign policy, which does
not lean on just one country, but rather searches for friends
anywhere in the world," Granic said commenting on his and Qian's
discussion on global international relations.
At the meeting Granic conveyed to Qian a President Tudjman's
message to Chinese President Jiang Zemin and invited Qian to visit
Croatia.
After the talks the ministers signed a convention on consular
ties between the two countries.
(Hina) mm bk
051558 MET feb 96