Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said Monday in Shanghai that Croatia hopes to further develop its trade relations with China and serve as the gateway for Chinese companies to enter the European market.

Prime Minister Sanader made the remarks in his keynote address during the Croatia-China Business Forum opened Monday morning in Shanghai. More than 150 entrepreneurs from both countries attended this forum.

Croatian companies are encouraged to come to invest in China, vying with companies from all around the world, and Croatia also hopes to see more Chinese companies would attend the Autumn Trade Fair held in Zagreb, said the prime minister.

Croatia and China have signed a number of government agreements over avoidance of dual taxation, protection of investment and maritime shipping, and the agreements will help boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation, he said.

Croatian statistics show that the value of bilateral trade between Croatia and China amounted to 642.7 million US dollars last year, up 56 percent from 2003, making China the eighth largest trading partner of Croatia.

Source: Xinhua