ZAGREB — China is ready to push clean energy cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) to a higher level, Zhang Jianhua, director of National Energy Administration, said in Zagreb on Oct 18.

Zhang spoke at an energy cooperation forum in Zagreb organized by the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation on Energy Projects, a platform that was established in 2016 by China and CEECs.

More than 160 Chinese and CEEC representatives from governmental departments, energy firms, research institutions and financial companies attended the forum.

Zhang told the forum that the cooperation mechanism between China and CEEC has become a model of regional cooperation since its launch in 2012.

China and CEEC countries have carried out a series of pragmatic cooperation projects in energy sector, and low-carbon energy such as wind and solar will be an important source of growth in China-CEEC energy cooperation, he said.

Croatian Minister of Environment and Energy Tomislav Coric noted that Croatia is dedicated to clean energy and has so far focused on wind and solar energy. In the next two months, he added, the Croatian parliament will adopt a new strategy on energy. "Croatia will be a strong partner for any investor here," Coric noted.

Chinese Ambassador to Croatia Xu Erwen said that Croatia has taken the lead in clean energy cooperation with China. She noted that Chinese company Norinco International is constructing a 156MW wind power project near the city of Senj in central Croatia. The wind farm will comprise 39 units of 4MW wind turbines.