Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Friday that China will make joint efforts with Croatia to promote the comprehensive and cooperative partnership.

The formation of the new relationship was announced by the two sides during Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's five-day China tour.

After reviewing the smooth development of China-Croatia ties in the past 13 years, Hu said the new partnership showed that the bilateral ties have entered a new phase.

The Chinese president said China has always respected Croatia's choice of development path suitable to its own national conditions and understood Croatia's national policy to participate in the European integration process.

China hopes the west Balkans region can realize lasting peace and development, he said.

Hu also expressed China's appreciation of Croatia's adherence to the one-China policy, its opposition to "Taiwan Independence" and support for China's national reunification cause.

Sanader, who is on his first trip to China since assuming office, said Croatia appreciates China's "positive role" in international affairs.

He said the Croatian government will firmly abide by the one- China policy and make more efforts to bolster bilateral ties.

Sanader arrived here on Thursday morning with a delegation of Croatian businessmen from the oil, steel, banking and food sectors.

On Thursday, Sanader held talks with his Chinese counterpart and the two signed a joint statement announcing the establishment of the comprehensive and cooperative partnership.

He will also visit Xi'an, home to the terra-cotta warriors and Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2005)