On October 16, 2026, local time, Croatian President Zoran Milanović met in Zagreb with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Zoran Milanović asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, stating that China has undergone tremendous changes over the past few decades and made remarkable achievements in economic and social development. China’s peaceful development poses no threat to any country and should be viewed objectively and rationally by all parties. Each country has its own system and principles and all countries should respect each other’s development paths and ways of life and strengthen mutual understanding and trust through dialogue and communication.

Zoran Milanović stated that Croatia and China enjoy longstanding friendly relations and have achieved significant outcomes in cooperation across various fields. Croatia attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is willing to strengthen exchanges at all levels and advance mutually beneficial cooperation. Zoran Milanović said that he has long paid attention to China’s foreign policy and fully understands its positions and views. He reaffirmed Croatia’s firm commitment to the one-China policy, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping’s cordial greetings to Zoran Milanović and commended him for his rational, pragmatic and friendly perspective on China’s development and rejuvenation. Wang Yi also highlighted Zoran Milanović’s efforts to promote mutual understanding and his longstanding commitment to friendly exchanges with China. Wang Yi stated that with a civilization spanning 5,000 years, China’s deep-rooted commitment to peace means that it does not seek to use its strength to dominate others, but instead pursues cooperation and mutual benefits with all countries. President Xi Jinping has put forward the goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity, emphasizing that all countries should stand together, embrace their shared destiny and jointly protect and develop the only planet that humanity calls home. China advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world in which all countries, large and small, are equal and uphold the basic norms of international relations based on the United Nations Charter.

Wang Yi stated that China has found a development path suited to its own conditions, supported by its people and aligned with the trend of the times. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. China will strive to make the world more peaceful, stable and prosperous. China’s success is not only its own, but also a success for all countries of the Global South. China is willing to view its relations with Croatia from a strategic and long-term perspective and explore ways to further elevate bilateral ties on the basis of their comprehensive cooperative partnership.

The two sides also exchanged views on China-Europe relations. Wang Yi noted that there is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and the European Union (EU), and that the two sides can help each other succeed and achieve common prosperity. Regarding the EU’s concerns over China’s trade surplus, he said that the surplus is a result of market demand and the international division of labor. China and the EU are partners, not adversaries, and should pursue cooperation rather than confrontation. Recent progress under the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism shows that the two sides can find mutually beneficial solutions as long as they remain committed to dialogue and consultation.

Zoran Milanović stated that Croatia, as an EU member, adheres to the bloc’s common foreign and security policy while striving to maintain its own independence. On current economic and trade disputes between the EU and China, he said that he shares China’s position and believes that China’s strong competitiveness stems mainly from an efficient, comprehensive system for organizing production. He expressed belief that the two sides will resolve development-related issues through communication and dialogue and find solutions satisfactory to all parties.

After the meeting, Wang Yi presented Zoran Milanović with a Croatian edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.

During his visit to Croatia, Wang Yi also met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and held talks with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman.