We turn to Croatia where Chinese premier Li Keqiang is visiting, and also a major project - the Peljesac Bridge - is under construction in the southern city of Dubrovnik. It's the first project in Croatia contracted by a Chinese company. Even heavy rain couldn't stop the premier and his Croatian counterpart from checking out the site on Thursday. Premier Li asked about the construction progress. And the two leaders discussed further infrastructure cooperation. Li Keqiang is in Dubrovnik for this year's 16+1 meeting between central and eastern European countries and China. CGTN's Aljosa Milenkovic has more from Croatia.

In the heavy rain, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the construction site of the Peljesac Bridge project, accompanied by his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic.

They've come to meet the people who work on this bridge mainly from the China Road and Bridge Corporation - the CRBC, which won the construction bid two years ago.

It is the first time a Chinese company has worked on a major infrastructure project in EU territory and under the EU rules.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "This bridge is a pilot project both for cooperation under the 16+1 programme, as well as for cooperation between China and the European Union. Because the Chinese company won a tender in an open competition of several candidates."

The EU and its role and influence here is very much talked about topic.

After praising the CRBC, even Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed confidence that they'll finish their work here by the end of 2021. He also mentioned the importance of the EU in this project.

ANDREJ PLENKOVIC CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER "The fact that, out of $586 million U.S. dollars allocated to the Peljesac bridge project, $402 million dollars is co-financed by the EU is especially important for us. After it's completed, it will represent permanent monument of our first few years into the EU."

Some analysts are saying that Croatia needs to appease the EU since this project raised some concerns in Brussels because of China's involvement.

Meantime, one local Croatian businessman sees the issue as a double standard.

MARIO RENDULIC, PRESIDENT CHINESE SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION "Chinese would like to invest in Eastern Europe and always is like European Parliament is saying that this is not so good because it's not transparent or any kind of other disputes are coming out. But on the other way, they are very, very good connected with China, taking the loans, making the business in China and also Chinese are making in the western countries."

Regardless, the Peljesac Bridge construction project is underway.

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC BRIJESTA "It was a major moment for both Croatia and China when the two heads of governments marked the beginning of a new phase of the construction of Peljesac bridge. It was another proof of the words Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday in Zagreb that relations between the two countries enter 'diamond era'."

Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Brijesta, close to Dubrovnik.