BEIJING (Reuters) – China would strengthen bilateral cooperation with Slovakia in areas such as new energy, transport and logistics as well as infrastructure construction, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Xi told Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is visiting China through Nov. 5, that a new intergovernmental committee between the two countries was key to strengthening cooperation in various fields, including in water resources management.
The leader of the world’s second largest economy spoke about encouraging “powerful” Chinese enterprises to invest in Slovakia, and invited Slovak firms to explore the Chinese market.
China also announced an upgrade to its relations with the central European country to a strategic partnership, and granted Slovak citizens 15-day visa-free entry to China.
Commenting on the crisis in Ukraine, which Slovakia shares a border with, Xi said China welcomed combined efforts to promote peace talks.
Under Fico, Slovakia has been keen to build closer bilateral and economic ties and alliances with non-European Union countries, including China, its biggest trading partner outside of the 27-state bloc, as well as Russia.
Ahead of his trip, Fico had described the visit as “crucial” following a decision by the European Commission, which oversees EU trade policy, to impose tariffs on China-made electric vehicles.
Slovakia was one of the five EU countries that opposed the tariffs, counting on Chinese investment to help build an EV battery plant.
Chinese lithium battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech and Slovak partner InoBat have invested 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in the plant, as Slovakia’s auto industry goes electric.
Slovakia, which produces Volkswagen models for export, is also cautious about getting caught in potential counter-tariffs after the bloc’s decision on China-made EVs. Beijing has dropped hints of imposing levies on the bloc’s large-engined gasoline vehicles.
Xi reiterated China’s position on the EU tariffs, urging EU institutions to take a “positive and pragmatic policy towards China”, and avoid politicising economic and trade issues.
Fico is expected to visit a plant operated by Gotion in eastern China. He will also attend the opening of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
($1 = 0.9206 euros)
(Reporting by Liz Lee, Beijing newsroom, Ryan Woo; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
