Economic Cooperation Between the Republic of Croatia and the People's Republic of China: The Role of the Belt and Road Initiatives

The cooperation between the Croatian people and the Chinese people has existed for 700 years, since Marco Polo stayed in China to establish and improve relations between the two nations. Contemporary diplomatic relations between the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as Croatia) and the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as China) began more than 30 years ago, i.e., in May 1992, after China recognized the independence of Croatia. Although the two countries are different in many aspects, what they have in common is a friendly and positive attitude towards each other with mutual respect. There are many reasons that influence diversity, and this diversity is precisely what determines the economic relations between the two countries. The values of economic transactions have been modest since the very beginning of the relationship between the two countries. However, in specific periods, there have been indications of an increase in trade and economic activities. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has contributed to an even greater rapprochement between the two countries, not only economically, but also culturally and, most importantly, interpersonally. In addition to three contemporary initiatives of the People's Republic of China: Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative serves as a platform for cooperation opportunities in the future, which is based on the successful historical cooperation of the two nations. The comprehensibility of the initiative is also represented by the opportunities within the Silk Road Fund and the activities of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). This paper investigated the historical trajectory of relations between Croatia and China, with a special emphasis on the importance of the BRI in Croatia. It analyzed the previous successes in economic cooperation and outlined the potential for future development under the initiative in Croatia.