The Croatian-Chinese business forum was held in Zagreb reported Croatian radio television.

Over 30 Croatian and 12 Chinese businesses and institutes held meetings, with the Chinese delegation especially interested in business cooperation and investment opportunities in energy and transport.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce places a heavy emphasis on improving economic relations with China and has recently signed a series of agreements with China's economic institutions.

China is the seventh most important partner of Croatia and the leading economic partner outside Europe, accounting for 4.6 per cent of total Croatian trade with the world. Last year, trade between Croatia and China totalled nearly 1.5 billion US dollars, of which the Croatian exports to China came to only 49 million US dollars, while imports from China reached more than 1.4 billion US dollars.

The Chinese delegation was in Croatia until 25 March.