"China has been a nation with scars of humiliation for the last 70 years," Xu said, noting that her country has become a "second world economy" from a country affected by wars from an almost feudal society.

"As for China-Croatia relations, they have already entered the best period in history," added the ambassador, who assumed the post this year.

"Both of our prime ministers have said that our relations entered a diamond period," Xu said, referring to a statement by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who visited Croatia in April.

The ambassador believes that the Sino-Croatian economic relations have gained momentum and that the  Chinese building of the Peljesac Bridge has been very well received in Croatia.

"A lot of people congratulate me on the bridge and very much appreciate that Chinese contribution to the welfare of Croatia," she said.

The bridge is built by China's state-owned China Bridge and Road Corporation and is funded by the European Union at 85 percent, with the rest being paid by Croatia.

"We have many more opportunities to develop co-operation, especially in the digital economy," the ambassador concluded on Croatian-Chinese economic co-operation, adding that there were more than 500,000 Chinese tourists in Croatia this year.

On Friday, Xu hosted the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China at the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb, which was attended by a number of former and current Croatian officials, ambassadors to Croatia, athletes, academics and others.