"Mutual benefit and win-win shared development are important characteristics of Belt and Road cooperation."
Interview with Jasna Pelavnikole, President of the Croatian Geoeconomic Forum.
People's Daily Online, Berlin, December 22 (Reporter Liu Zhonghua) "Mutual benefit and win-win results and shared development are important characteristics of the Belt and Road cooperation. It is this mutually beneficial relationship that has made the Belt and Road Initiative so successful and influential over the past decade. At present, Belt and Road projects are spread all over the world, and the ties with international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank are also getting closer and closer. This adds to the attractiveness of the initiative. Jasna Pelavnikole, chairman of the Croatian Geoeconomic Forum, said in an interview with a reporter from People's Daily a few days ago.
President of the Croatian Geoeconomic Forum, Jasna Pelavnikole. Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
Pelavnikole pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative has created conditions for enhancing intercontinental connectivity, deepening the economic interdependence of all countries, and promoting economic globalization into a new stage of development that is more equitable and inclusive for all. Over the past decade, the synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism have contributed to the rapid development of Central Europe, and many European countries, including Hungary, Serbia and Croatia, have benefited greatly.
Speaking about Croatia's relations with China, Pelavnikole said that in 2022, Croatia and China celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past 30 years, the friendly relations between the two countries have been continuously deepened, and the people of the two countries have benefited from economic and trade cooperation. Since 2012, under the impetus of the cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European countries and the Belt and Road Initiative, Croatia-China relations have accelerated their development. Croatia considers the mechanism to be an important platform for strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations with China, and actively participates in the Belt and Road cooperation.
At present, Croatian-Chinese economic and trade relations and cooperation are more diversified. While the bilateral ** is growing, Chinese companies are actively investing in Croatia's green economy and financial sector. Scientific and academic cooperation between the two sides is also increasing. After the end of the coronavirus pandemic, Croatia has repositioned itself as a must-see destination in Europe for Chinese tourists and has managed to increase the interest of Chinese capital investment in Croatia's tourism industry. Nowadays, Chinese enterprises continue to explore the market in Croatia and win the welcome of local partners by virtue of their advantages such as attaching importance to sustainable development, high level of science and technology, and strong financial strength. Pelav Nicole said.
She said that the Belt and Road cooperation has achieved fruitful results in Croatia. In 2022, the Peljesac Bridge, built by a Chinese company, was completed and opened to traffic, which was welcomed by the local people. The project has greatly promoted the cooperation between the two countries and is an important milestone in the economic and trade cooperation between Croatia and China. Before CRBC entered the Croatian market, large-scale infrastructure projects in Croatia were mainly undertaken by a construction company. The arrival of Chinese companies has provided more options and strengthened the principle of market competition. In addition, the agreement signed by the Croatian Railway Infrastructure Company and the Engineering Group of the Second Institute of China Railway - "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Construction of Multimodal Transport Corridors in Croatia". In addition, Croatia is very interested in attracting Chinese companies to modernize other ports.
Pelavnikole pointed out that in recent years, China has played an increasingly prominent role in the international and multilateral arenas, and has taken the lead in putting forward important initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, which have become important supports for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Today's world needs economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, and green innovation and sustainable development more than ever. These goals are present in the Global Development Initiative, which can also be seen as a new declaration that every country has the right to development. China's Global Development Initiative (GDI) has once again demonstrated that China has a global mindset and a platform to drive global development with its historic development achievements. Compared with a decade ago, more and more countries, especially developing countries, have established closer economic or political ties with China.
According to Pelavnikole, the Croatian Geoeconomic Forum was established in 2004 by some well-known experts in Croatia who are familiar with international affairs, with the aim of promoting discussion and reflection on how Croatia can respond to the challenges and opportunities of economic globalization. On its advisory board are two former Croatian Prime Ministers** and one former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Geoeconomic Forum has become an independent platform for gaining an in-depth understanding of China's foreign policy, in particular the Belt and Road Initiative and China-CEE cooperation, as well as promoting cooperation between China and the EU.
Pelavnikle has visited China seven times and met many Chinese**, experts and scholars, "China has a tolerant attitude towards countries with different cultures and political systems, and never imposes its own values or development model on others. China is by no means a threat, but a force to promote and improve global governance. I believe that China's constructive role in the world economy will continue to grow and its role in the international financial system will continue to increase. ”
*: People's Daily Online-International Channel.