Former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic has hailed China as an excellent partner, highlighting strong potential for deeper, mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the European Union.
This year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), a national blueprint guiding the country's economic and social development over the next five years.
The plan, approved by the country's highest legislature, calls on China to "unswervingly expand high-level opening up and promote high-quality development," pledging continued support for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and deeper integration with Global South partners.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) on Sunday in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Josipovic lauded the plan as a signal of China's continued commitment to its opening-up policy, which he said will create fresh opportunities for cooperation between China and Croatia and other European countries.
"It's a very ambitious project, definitely. It demonstrates continuation of the policy of opening. That's very important. Of course, there's the possibility for Croatia to be included more and more in the One Belt One Road project (Belt and Road Initiative) or some other projects with China. What's very important, I always stress, Chinese projects, international projects are always based on win-win principles. That's very important because some other big countries do not follow that type of principle, and of course, it makes China a more attractive partner than possibly some others," said Josipovic.
China was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Croatia. In recent years, bilateral ties have continued to gain momentum, with high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative delivering remarkable achievements, exemplified by landmark projects such as the Peljesac Bridge and the Senj Wind Farm project.
Regarding the worry among some European politicians over China's growing economic influence, Josipovic said that such concerns should not overshadow the great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation.
"It's a great opportunity for China, but also for European Union, for European countries. And I think that it's very important that [it will sweep] away fear on China, because there are some politicians who are afraid that China will cover everything. No, China is an excellent partner. That's very important. Politicians are afraid that the excellent position of China and the good products from China can [do] damage to the European economy. But if all rules are followed, I think the result will be positive for both sides, for Europe and for China, because there are some areas in which China is better and the others, the European Union is better. So, we can take advantage of both sides and make a much better partnership today," said Josipovic.
Former Croatian president hails China as excellent partner, calling for deeper China-EU cooperation
Twenty-five years after its founding, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has evolved into an economic grouping with tangible global influence, international experts have said.
The organization, spanning critical energy corridors, manufacturing hubs, and consumer markets, represents nearly a quarter of global GDP and over 15 percent of world trade.
Ahead of the upcoming SCO summit 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Mohammed Saqib, Secretary-general of India-China Economic and Cultural Council hailed the organization's dual role in empowering member states and ensuring regional stability.
"SCO does two things. One is that it gives empowerment and also stability. It gives stability by creating cooperation between the countries. It empowers them by giving them infrastructure, by giving them opportunities to grow, and stability by having cooperation, working together," Saqib said. Against the backdrop of rising protectionist sentiments, SCO is believed to have turned shared needs into shared opportunities for all countries. In 2023 alone, SCO economies accounted for more GDP than the European Union.
"I think for rising protectionism, which now the West has been trying for a long time to do, SCO has substantially reduced the protectionism, fear, or implications for the Global South. Western countries are trying to essentially create a bloc confrontation. They want to continue with the hegemony, which they have been enjoying for the last 80-plus years. And now SCO has given an opportunity to get out of that dependence on the West," Saqib said.
"SCO is not involved in this so-called de-risking approach. This is an ideological agenda of some countries in the West who are scared of China. This approach is outdated and this mindset won't work in the 21st century. So they are going against the tide of history while SCO is on the right side of history," said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a Pakistani Senator.
SCO's pursuit of multilateralism offers a platform for countries long marginalized in global economic cooperation, especially those in the Global South.
"In the past, Global South countries were always under pressure, under Western pressure. And Western governments would give them very unfair agreements to sign. And the West had a monopoly over industry and business to a large degree. And so they would put forward one-sided trade deals, and trade deals that benefited the West and gave very little benefit to countries across the Global South. Now, with the rise of Asian powers, the West no longer has that monopoly. And therefore, countries across the Global South have a choice. They can work with the rising Asian countries that offer much better deals, that offer much more beneficial collaboration, collaboration with much better results," said Mohammad Marandi, a Professor at the University of Tehran.
"I think the Global South now is seeing a focus on economic connectivity, economic relationships. It is tired of the militarization of international relations. But the SCO framework is somewhat different. SCO is trying to be the bridge between different countries in trade, economy, investment, road transport," Sayed said.
As Western sanctions reshape trade flows, how to leverage the SCO platform to enhance their independent development capabilities is a key focus for many Global South countries.
"They should cooperate more. They should have more South-South cooperation. They should have more trade among themselves. They should break these border tariffs and trades," said Sayed.
"Asia needs greater infrastructure projects in order to protect the trade routes from disruption on the seas. That, I think, creates an incentive for greater land-based infrastructure to be developed among SCO member states to protect the trade and business between these countries from external factors," Marandi said.
Twenty-five years on, the SCO is no longer just a security group. It is becoming an engine of shared prosperity.
By deepening connectivity, expanding South-South cooperation, and offering an open, rules-based alternative to bloc politics, the SCO is helping Global South countries turn interdependence into opportunity. In an age of fragmentation, its message is clear: The future belongs not to walls or sanctions, but to bridges, trade routes, and joint development.
SCO serves as economic engine in era of fragmentation: experts
