(ANSA) - ZAGREB, APR 10 - China and Croatia signed today in Zagreb a series of bilateral agreements, which aim to strengthen relations between the two countries and better integrate Croatia in the Chinese strategic initiative of the New Silk Road. ''Our meeting focused on investment and economic cooperation'', said Croatia's premier Andrej Plenkovic after meeting his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. ''We have a common interest in Croatia's greater involvement in the strategic initiative of the New Silk Road'', Li explained. The agreements primarily focus on possible Chinese investments to modernize Croatian railways and Adriatic ports, in the computer and digital industry and agriculture. Last year China's state company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) was awarded the contract for the construction of the Peljesac bridge, southern Dalmatia, the largest infrastructure project in Croatia, which is worth 280m euros. In the afternoon, Li will meet with the Croatian president Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and other representatives of Croatian political institutions.

Tomorrow and Friday the Chinese premier will participate in Dubrovnik in the 8th summit of the CEEC countries (Central and Eastern European Countries, of which 11 are members of the EU), in the so-called 16 + 1 format (CCEEC). The members of the group are Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia e Slovenia.(ANSA).