On October 14, 2015, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic of Croatia at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state agreed to make great efforts to tap the potential for bilateral cooperation in various fields and elevate China-Croatia comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Xi Jinping welcomed Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic's visit to China and attendance of the China 2015 Poverty Reduction and Development Forum. Xi Jinping pointed out that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Croatia relations present a sound development momentum. Mme. President's visit to China on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Croatia comprehensive cooperative partnership will inject new impetus to the development of bilateral relations. Both China and Croatia should always view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and continue to support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns. The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and boost exchanges and dialogues at all levels of governments, legislative bodies and political parties. Croatia, as an important country along the "Belt and Road" with distinctive location advantages, is now driving economic transformation. Both sides should explore the docking of development strategies, become more actively involved in cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), and focus on tapping potential of bilateral cooperation in energy, transportation, industrial parks, finance, telecommunications, agriculture and others, so as to better elevate bilateral relations. The two sides should strengthen people-to-people and cultural cooperation in fields like culture, education, sports, tourism, and local affairs thus consolidate the public support of bilateral relations.

Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), and China-EU relations are facing new opportunities for comprehensive deepening and expansion. China and the EU are now actively implementing the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, steadily pushing the China-EU four major partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization to strike root and looking for new cooperation space and growth points. China appreciates Croatia for its active commitment to the development of China-EU relations, and stands ready to cooperate with Croatia to promote China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation for better and faster development. China pays close attention to the recent refugee issue in Europe and the Mediterranean, sympathizes the refugees for their situations and appreciates the active efforts of relevant countries including Croatia to resettle the refugees. The Chinese government will continue to provide a certain amount of aid to the refugees in relevant countries to help ease the humanitarian crisis.

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic expressed that she was glad to visit China and attend the China 2015 Poverty Reduction and Development Forum on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Croatia-China comprehensive cooperative partnership. China is an important member of the international community, the Croatia-China friendship is time-honored and the Croatian people bear friendly affections towards the Chinese people. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations 23 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing rapidly. The two sides have maintained frequent high-level exchanges, achieved fruitful results in exchanges and cooperation in areas including economy and trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement and local affairs, and kept close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. The Croatian side thanks China for its valuable support to Croatia's development over these years. Croatia, which has officially joined the EU, supports to develop closer EU-China relations, stands ready to become a friendly partner of China in the EU and is willing to take an active part in CEEC -China cooperation. Croatia appreciates China's positive contributions to solving the refugee issue in the Middle East.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Xi Jinping's wife Mme. Peng Liyuan, Vice Premier Ma Kai, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Eligen Imibakhi, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chen Yuan and others attended the ceremony.