On 21 December 2018, China and the EU signed the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Maritime Transport Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China, of the One Part, and the European Community and Its Member States, of the Other Part in Brussels. Chinese Ambassador to the EU Mr. Zhang Ming, and Permanent Representative of Austria which holds the EU rotating presidency Ambassador Nikolaus Marschik and Deputy Director-General of DG MOVE Ms. Maja Bakran Marcich signed the Protocol on behalf of the Chinese and EU sides respectively. Croatian Permanent Representative Ambassador Mato Skrabalo attended the signing ceremony.

Ambassador Zhang recalled the good progress of China-EU relations in the past year, marked by close exchanges at various levels, growing consensus and stronger cooperation. Ambassador Zhang said that connectivity, including maritime transport, is and will continue to be an important part of China-EU cooperation. Chinese and EU leaders have agreed to build synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and EU’s strategy for connecting Europe and Asia. The China-EU Connectivity Platform is proceeding positively. Ambassador Zhang stressed that Croatia’s joining in the maritime transport agreement will add further impetus to China-EU cooperation and the growth of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

EU representatives emphasized the importance of maritime transport in the EU-China connectivity cooperation, and in the joint efforts to uphold maritime security, and fight piracy and terrorism. Given its geographic location as a coastal country, Croatia, the new member of the agreement, will help bring forward the EU-China connectivity, economic and trade cooperation.

On 6 December 2002, China and the European Community and its member states signed the Agreement on Maritime Transport, which took effect on 1 March 2008. With Croatia’s joining in the EU on 1 July 2013, China and the EU signed the Protocol to recognize Croatia’s accession to the Agreement.