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 years after trains first began running on the Qinghai‑Xizang Railway, the world's highest and longest plateau line continues to transform lives, a change most visible in Amdo County, the gateway stop as the railway enters Xizang.
In July 2006, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway linking Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, and Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, went operational, ending Xizang's history of no railway access.
At 4,702 meters altitude, Amdo railway station is one of the world's highest railway stations. It's not a big station with just four tracks, but for the local people it's a lifeline.
Amdo is small county with just around 40,000 people, and is known as the gateway to the northern part of Xizang. Before the Qinghai-Xizang Railway opened 20 years ago, it would take a month for locals to go to Lhasa on horseback.
The railway forever changed people's lives in Amdo, including 74-year-old Kelsang. He is one of the first passengers of what has been nicknamed the "sky road."
"Before 2006, I had only heard of trains, never seen one, let alone ridden one. I felt truly happy to be able to take the very first train," said Kelsang.
When the railway was first designed, the station was about seven kilometers from Amdo. So to include the region into the overall development of Xizang, designers made a turn in the railway and changed the station to just one kilometer from the county.
That made Amdo the first comprehensive passenger and freight station as the railway enters Xizang. Amdo then became a vital link connecting the plateau to the rest of the world, and was reshaped entirely.
"Over there used to be empty land. Now there's a health center, a village committee. All built in recent years," said Gonggar Lub, son of Kelsang.
Thirty-eight-year-old Gonggar Lub was born and raised in Amdo. He now is the head of the local media center, and has a sharp eye for change.
"Back then, living in the pastoral areas, we couldn't get fresh vegetables or fruit every day. Now it's very convenient. We have various kinds of vegetables and fruits in supermarkets," he said.
The train has also helped bring the county upgraded medical facilities, a reliable supply of medicines and more medical staff.
"Now, every village has a doctor, every town has a health center. The county's medical facilities are very good. The hospital is also able to do some surgeries. All of this is available now," he added.
Quan Jinbo works at the Amdo Railway Station. Watching passengers come and go every day, Quan found that the packages people brought with them became smaller.
"When I was in Nagqu in 2010, people traveled with tents, yak butter, dried meat, and even bedding, piled up like a small mountain. Now they carry very little," Quan said.
Before Quan came to Amdo, only one person worked in the station. Seven years ago, he came to Amdo railway station since it needed more staff due to the significantly increasing passenger flow.
Since the railway opened in 2006, over 1 billion tonnes of goods have been transported into and out of Xizang via rail. From 2006 to 2025, the annual freight volume increased by 23 times to over 8.31 million tonnes.
It has changed not just one county, but the livelihood of the people living on the entire plateau.
Qinghai-Xizang Railway transforms lives in Amdo county
