Karzai thanked Croatia for its assistance, expressing hope for further development of relations between the two countries, especially in the economic field.

Josipovic said that Croatia was ready to help Afghanistan in establishing peace.

"Croatia is participating in the efforts aimed at establishing peace in your country. We very much appreciate the efforts you have undertaken in reconstruction and reconciliation, and Croatia is ready to help you in that," Josipovic said.

Josipovic is the first president of Croatia to visit Afghanistan and the Croatian troops serving within the NATO-led peace mission ISAF.

"We also discussed possibilities of developing economic cooperation and especially cooperation in education," the Croatian president said. He invited Afghan students to come to Croatia.

Karzai said that conditions would be created for the development of economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Croatia after the completion of the transition process in Afghanistan and after the Afghan authorities take over security in their country.

Your soldiers are in Afghanistan, your president is here for a visit. That will enable enhancement of relations between Croatia and Afghanistan, Karzai said, adding that Croatia was already providing technical assistance to his country.

Croatia is involved in 23 development projects in Afghanistan, worth 1.1 million US dollars, either independently or within the United Nations Development Programme. Some Croatian companies have been awarded contracts for the construction of infrastructure and roads in Afghanistan.

President Josipovic, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, on Friday visited Croatian troops in Camp Cobra, which is located within Camp Warehouse under Turkish command. Croatia currently has 334 soldiers in Afghanistan.

Later on Saturday, Josipovic is scheduled to visit Croatian troops at Mazar-i-Sharif in the north of the country.