2019年CRI Croatians expect Premier Li's visit to bring more investment, cooperation

 

During Premier¹ Li Keqiang's official visit to Croatia, people from different walks of life in the country have expressed their sense of optimism in the future of their country's relationship with China, and their belief that cooperation and investment between the two sides will continue to grow.

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 Ministry² is leading this cross-country collaboration³.

"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 auto⁴ industry and leisure services sector⁵, as well as into infrastructure⁶ 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 deficit⁷ 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.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

4 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。