SENJ, Croatia — The presence of a Chinese team at the 50th International Senj Summer Carnival is proof that Chinese builders have close ties with the local community, said Viktor Samarzija, director of the Senj Tourist Board, in a recent interview.

"We are extremely pleased that the Chinese team participated in our carnival for the second year. It is an honor for us to host them," Samarzija said.

China's Norinco International Cooperation Ltd — Norinco International — together with the Chinese embassy in Zagreb and the Confucius Institute at the University of Zagreb, participated in a parade, the highlight of the week-long carnival that ran from Aug 7 to 12.

The carnival, which featured concerts, exhibitions, parades and fireworks, has been the largest of its kind in Croatia. Some 50 groups of over 2,000 people from Croatia and Slovenia, Italy, Austria and other countries participated, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.

The Chinese team, while showcasing costumes of ancient China, also interacted with the crowds and won rounds of applause.

Norinco International is the contractor and builder of Croatia's Senj Wind Farm, located on the Adriatic coast of western Croatia and inaugurated in December 2021. The wind farm produces about 530 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity each year and reduces Croatia's annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 460,000 metric tons.

Referring to the Chinese builders as "extremely cultured and unobtrusive people", Samarzija said they "integrated perfectly into our society and the proof of that is this carnival gathering where we exchange the custom and wealth of our two cultures with each other".

Samarzija said the Senj Wind Farm is of "great importance" in boosting both local employment and generating profits.

According to the Chinese embassy, while under construction, the wind farm project employed over 260 locals and had contracts with more than 40 local subcontractors, suppliers and service providers.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has hailed the Senj Wind Farm as a project key to the clean and renewable energy sector in the city and the country as a whole.

The Chinese presence is also "proof of a close relationship" between the Chinese and the local community, Samarzija said.

As Senj's tourism director, Samarzija extended his welcome to Chinese tourists. Senj, dubbed "pearl of the North Adriatic", is known for its natural beauty and 3,000-year history as well as its rich cultural heritage, he said.

Xinhua