![Croatia's capital city Zagreb [File photo: IC]](http://img3.zhytuku.meldingcloud.com/images/zhycms_chinaplus/20190410/63410c81-cc08-432b-b0ee-c96e09976464.jpg?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_650)
A recent public opinion poll in Croatia found that many people consider China to be a friendly country, and they expect to see growth in Chinese investments in Croatia.
“I can say that investments coming from China, which is a leading world economy, are welcome to Croatia,” said Tomislav, a resident in Zagreb.
“Personally I like China and I think that in the future China will be the leading nation in the world, and will shine even more. So, I think it’s good to have China as a friend,” said Senka Jovicic, another resident.
Last summer, a number of police officers from China joined the ranks of their Croatian counterparts to patrol the streets around some of the country’s most popular tourist sites.
This initiative by Croatian police aimed to strengthen the ties between the police in the two countries, and to help make Chinese tourists feel more at home.
Tomislav Gulan with Croatia’s Interior Ministry is leading this cross-country collaboration.
“If an incident involves a Chinese citizen, whether they’re the victim or the perpetrator, Chinese police officers in the Republic of Croatia will be called on to provide assistance. They are the bridge between those Chinese citizens and our police,” said Gulan.
And it’s not only police and tourists that are building bridges between the two nations. A rapidly growing number of economic development projects is playing a major role as well.
Investment from China has flowed into Croatia’s auto industry and leisure services sector, as well as into infrastructure construction, such as the port of Zadar on the Adriatic coast.
During Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Croatia, expectations are high that new investment and trade deals will be reached.
Zoran Meter is an editor with Croatia’s Geopolitika news agency.
He said: “I think there will be more Chinese investment in Croatia, and the European Union doesn’t have the means to stop that. They will try to do something by changing the laws to equalize the trade deficit with China. In the long run, a balance will be reached, but regardless, China will gain a stronger position in the European Union and subsequently in Croatia as well.”
Premier Li is the first Chinese premier to visit Croatia since the two countries established diplomatic ties 27 years ago.
During his time in Croatia, he will also attend the eighth meeting of leaders from China and Central and Eastern European Countries.
