President Hu Jintao's state visit to Croatia indicates that China recognize both the investments made by Croatia in her economic development and political stability, as well as her contributions toward international security and peace, Croatia's ambassador to China said.

"We welcome the latter recognition that obliges Croatia to stay the course," Ante Simonic said last week in a written reply to China Daily.

China's success in developing its market and polity matters to Croatia, a mid-sized country on the cusp of membership in the European Union, the ambassador wrote.