Malta's experience in negotiations with the EU on fisheries is very important to Croatia and Zagreb expects Malta to help it in this field, Sanader told a news conference after meeting Malta's PM.
Gonzi said that the purpose of his return visit to Zagreb was to reiterate Malta's backing to Croatia during its process of integrating with the European Union.
"Malta's experience, primarily in the fisheries talks is extremely important to us," Sanader said adding that he hoped that EC Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maltese Joe Borg, would visit Croatia so as to help Croatia in this segment of the accession negotiations.
Gonzi said that his country, that entered the EU in 2004, was willing to offer Croatia all its experience from the pre-accession process as well as from EU membership.
With about 400,000 citizens living on the island large 4,500 square kilometres, Malta is the smallest EU member state.
However, the experience from the last two years has proved that the voice of a small country can be heard inside the EU and that it carries considerable weight in the Union, the Maltese official said.
Sanader said that the relations between Croatia and Malta were excellent but that the economic trade of 116 million dollars could be increased.
Croatia offers Malta its Rijeka Seaport as a gateway to Central Europe, the Croatian premier added.
According to him, the announced visit of Malta President Edward Fenech Adami to Zagreb this October could serve as an opportunity for talks on the enhancement of the economic cooperation between the two Mediterranean countries.