Croatia's Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, met with Chinese Transport Minister Li Xiaopeng in Beijing on Sunday for talks on investments in infrastructure projects in Croatia, Chinese companies' interest for using the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka, and on possible launch of direct flights between Zagreb and Beijing.

Butkovic cited the Peljesac Bridge project as the most significant Croatian-Chinese venture to date, and talked about Croatia’s favourable geographic position, which should make the country attractive to Chinese companies wishing to access European markets.

Li said that China is encouraging its companies to apply for tenders in Croatia and to comply with all the required deadlines and local regulations. He added that the two countries were fostering friendly relations, and that Croatia is an important partner to China.

“Cooperation in the area of infrastructure is only in its initial stage, and will be further strenghtened through the Belt and Road and China+16 initiatives,” Li said.

The meeting with the Chinese transport minister was the first of several meetings the Croatian delegation will have in China during their official visit scheduled to last until January 26.

The Croatian delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and executives from state-owned HZ Infrastruktura railway company, the Hrvatske Ceste road management company, and the Rijeka port operator.

The visit marks the continuation of the process of intensifying relations between the two countries, Butkovic’s ministry said in a press release on Monday, as well as preparations for this year’s summit between China and 16 Eastern and Central European countries, which will be hosted by Croatia.

This will be the eighth such summit held after the last one took place in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia in July 2018.

On Monday, Butkovic is scheduled meet with executives of the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which is building the Peljasac Bridge in southern Croatia.

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