Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (R) shakes hands with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Vesna Pusic during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2013. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and his Croatian counterpart, Vesna Pusic, held a meeting on Wednesday, vowing to continue to promote China-Croatia relations and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with Croatia and will work with the country to promote concrete cooperation to serve the economic development of the two countries, Zhang said.

He added China will support its companies in participating in construction of Croatia's infrastructure, including ports and roads, and is willing to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and tourism.

Pusic, Croatia's first deputy prime minister and minister of foreign and European affairs, echoed Zhang, saying that Croatia will strengthen its cooperation with China in trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Zhang also called on the two countries to jointly promote the development of China-Europe comprehensive strategic partnership and the relationship between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

He said he believed Croatia's entry into the European Union will help the EU's development. China-Europe relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries is a major component of China-Europe ties, he said.

China will work with Croatia to promote in-depth development of the China-Europe comprehensive strategic partnership and the relationship between China and Central and Eastern European countries, Zhang added.

Pusic said Croatia will join hands with China to promote greater progress of Europe-China ties and cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China.