Main organisers were China International Chamber of Commerce and the Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce (SRCIC). The summit promoted international cooperation, global economic and trade prosperity under the Belt and Road initiative that celebrates the 5th year of its existence.

This high summit was opened by the deputy governor of Hunan Province, He Baoxiang, the Chairmen of the two organising chambers of commerce, Mr. Zhang Wei and Mr. Lu Jianzhong, and former President of Croatia, Mr. Stjepan Mesić.

During the opening remarks it was stated that the Belt and Road initiative, proposed by the president Xi in 2013, has developed significantly and greatly enhanced China’s trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in the last 5 years. According to statistics, China’s total trade in goods along the “Belt and Road” has exceeded USD 5 trillion since 2013, and foreign direct investment has exceeded USD 70 billion, creating more than 200,000 jobs in the process.

Mr. Stjepan Mesić, senior advisor in SRCIC, said that the “Belt and Road” is the most important global economic development initiative, at present even more important to the world then when it was first proposed in 2013. Current unfair trade practices, direct war confrontations, and threats to globalisation make the Belt and Road the most stable and sustainable world initiative that promotes globalisation, development of trade and sustainable investments.

“Croatia is an active participant in the initiative, that made several big steps this year. CRBC was chosen as a main contractor of the construction of Croatia’s Pelješac Bridge (85% funded by the EU). Croatia hosted the “16+1” Tourism Summit and will be a host of “16+1” General Summit in 2019”, Mesić said. “All B&R country members need to expand their development strategies and persist in the sustainable development under the initiative.”

Parallel forums discussed the “Belt and Road” brand building, international tourism development, international financial cooperation, innovation and development of Chinese medicine. In the closing part of the Summit, CSEBA received the SRCIC Outstanding Contribution Reward for the year 2018, after organising the Silk Road Tourism Workshop in Krapinske Toplice and the Silk Road Tourism Conference in Dubrovnik earlier this year, and successfully bringing several Chinese business delegations and a dozen big Chinese tourist agencies to Croatia.

Mr. Ernest Svazić, Mayor of Krapinske Toplice, received a reward for outstanding cooperation in 2018, and accepted an invitation for Krapinske Toplice to join the Silk Road Urban Alliance with a full membership status.