The Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduces the arrangements and expectations for Wang Yi’s visit to Croatia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria

China News Service, Beijing, October 12 (Reporters Huang Yuqin and Li Jingze) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning hosted a regular press conference on the 12th.

A reporter asked: Can the spokesperson further introduce the arrangements for Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Croatia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria and China’s expectations?

Mao Ning: Croatia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria are China’s important partners in Southeast Europe. In recent years, China has maintained close exchanges with the three countries, and has achieved remarkable results in cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, tourism, and infrastructure. China has broad consensus on safeguarding multilateralism, jointly responding to global challenges, and developing China-EU relations. During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with the foreign ministers of the three countries and have an in-depth exchange of views with the leaders of the three countries.

Croatia is an important partner of China within the EU. The Pelješac Bridge built by China has become a landmark project for China-Croatia and China-EU cooperation. The China-Croatia comprehensive cooperative partnership has become more mature and stable. China looks forward to strengthening the alignment of development strategies, expanding practical cooperation with Croatia through this visit, and promoting the stability and long-term development of China-Croatia relations.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Montenegro. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and have jointly created a series of cooperation benchmarks such as the Montenegro North-South Expressway. China looks forward to expanding the depth and breadth of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation through this first visit by a Chinese foreign minister, inheriting and developing traditional friendship, and injecting new impetus into bilateral relations in the next 20 years.

Bulgaria is the second country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with New China. In recent years, the strategic partnership between the two countries has developed steadily, with frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful practical cooperation. China looks forward to consolidating mutual trust, promoting cooperation, deepening friendship with the new Bulgarian government through this visit, and promoting the continued and in-depth development of bilateral relations.