On June 20, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic attended the opening ceremony of China-Croatia Commerce Forum and the Entrepreneurs Fair in Zagreb, Croatia.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, President Hu pointed out that Croatia has become China's largest trading partner in Southeast Europe. Exchanges between enterprises are becoming increasingly close. Mutual visits of business delegations, business exchanges in various forms, and investment forum have played a positive role in expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides.

Hu stressed that recalling the history of friendly exchanges between the two countries and looking into the bright future for bilateral cooperation, we need to look at and handle China-Croatia relationship from a strategic height, develop comprehensive plans for the development of cooperation between the two countries, and uplift the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries to a new level. To this end, President Hu put forward the following proposals.

First, to enhance mutual political trust and promote common development. From the strategic perspective of seeking for common development and in the spirit of mutual trust, mutual assistance, reciprocity, and mutual benefit, we need to strengthen dialogue, expand consensus, enhance mutual political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation, enrich the connotations of the comprehensive partnership between China and Croatia, and promote the long-term, steady and comprehensive development of the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Second, to expand trade scale and drive balanced development of trade. I hope that entrepreneurs of the two countries could strengthen cooperation, make efforts to find out products that meet market needs, and keep expanding trade exchanges. We welcome Croatian companies to promote their products through various forms such as participation in exhibitions, expand exports to China, and drive the balanced development of bilateral trade.

Third, to broaden areas of cooperation and upgrade the level of cooperation. We should give full play to the complementary advantages of the two economies, and encourage and support enterprises to actively explore cooperation opportunities in home appliances, telecommunications, logistics, tourism, R&D, infrastructure development, project contracting and other areas, expand mutual investment, and cultivate new growth points for bilateral economic and trade relations.

Fourth, to make good use of cooperation mechanisms and enhance mutual understanding. The two sides should give better play to the role of the mixed committee on trade in macro-guidance and co-ordination and make proper plans for the direction of cooperation. The intermediary organizations of the two countries, such as investment and trade promotion agencies in the chambers of commerce, should serve as a bridge and link to help businesses find more trade and investment opportunities.

Hu pointed out that the current international financial crisis continues to deepen and spread. The Chinese government is willing to work with the international community including Croatia to strengthen coordination in macroeconomic policies and make our due contribution to advancing the reform of the international financial system, opposing protectionism in trade and investment, and promoting the early recovery of world economy.

Hu pointed out that strengthening friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Croatia is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is conducive to promoting the common development of the two countries. I firmly believe that with the unremitting efforts of the governments and business communities of the two countries and all the friends here, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Croatia will be more productive.

Mesic said in his speech that the leaders of the two sides attach great importance to and actively promote bilateral economic and trade relations. The economic and trade cooperation has become an important part of bilateral relations. The two sides have great potentials to cooperate in such fields as trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, technology, and infrastructure development. He hoped that the entrepreneurs of the two countries could enhance confidence, have a long-term vision, increase investment, adjust trade structure, and promote bilateral economic and trade relations.

He said that in the context of current international financial crisis, China introduced large-scale economic stimulus plans and increased investment in economic and social undertakings. Croatia needs to learn from China's experience in coping with the international financial crisis.

The Chinese Minister of Commerce and the President of Croatian Chamber of Commerce also spoke at the meeting.

The forum is sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. More than 500 participants, including the officials of the Chinese and Croatian governments, attended the opening ceremony.

Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, and Dai Bingguo also attended the above-mentioned activities.