Croatian CEO vows to boost ties with China

This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2023 shows a product launch event of Huawei in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.  (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

The CEO of Croatia's 404 Agency aims to strengthen economic ties with China, highlighting successful collaborations with major Chinese firms like Huawei and expressing optimism about China's ongoing economic transformation.

ZAGREB, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The CEO of Croatia's leading consulting agency hopes to boost ties with China, the second-largest economy in the world, he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Nikola Vrdoljak, CEO of the 404 Agency, voiced his plan to expand business connections with Chinese companies this year.

"We have already been doing business with several big Chinese companies, the most important being Huawei (Technologies), for many years already. We hope to continue that cooperation and be a good partner to all Chinese companies coming to Croatia or Europe," Vrdoljak told Xinhua.

The 404 agency has been doing business with Chinese companies mainly in the technology sector, and has gained a lot of experience.

Meanwhile, the Croatian CEO said he plans to visit China again this year, to explore more opportunities for cooperation.

This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows a coffee shop in Zagreb, Croatia. (Xinhua/Li Xuejun)

Vrdoljak was one of the 17 Croatians, including 15 entrepreneurs and two officials from the country's Ministry of Economy, who attended a training course in China in September last year. The trip gave him a better understanding of China, as well as its future, he said.

Vrdoljak expressed his full confidence in the Chinese economy, although he said China is currently going through a restructuring process.

"I believe that is going to be just another step to create a more modern, more complex, and more technologically advanced economy," he said, adding that Europe should look at China as a partner to expand business cooperation and explore opportunities.

Regarding China-Europe relations, Vrdoljak said he hopes the relationship "will focus more on business and culture and less on political competition."

Increased cooperation between China, Europe, the United States and other global actors "will bring us more peace and prosperity in 2024," he said.