China will strengthen bilateral co-operation with Slovakia in areas such as new energy, transport and logistics and infrastructure construction, Reuters reports.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is visiting China until November 5, on Friday that a new intergovernmental committee between the two countries is key to strengthening co-operation in various fields, including water management.
The leader of the world’s second-largest economy spoke of encouraging “powerful” Chinese enterprises to invest in Slovakia and invited Slovak firms to tap the Chinese market.
China also announced it was upgrading 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, with which Slovakia shares a border, Xi said China welcomes joint efforts to promote peace talks.
Under Fico, Slovakia has sought closer bilateral and economic ties and alliances with countries outside the EU, including China, the largest trading partner outside the 27-nation bloc, as well as Russia.
Ahead of his trip, Fico called the visit “extremely important” following a decision by the European Commission, which oversees EU trade policy, to impose tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars.
Slovakia was one of five EU countries that opposed the tariffs, counting on Chinese investment to build a battery factory for electric cars. Chinese lithium battery maker Gotion High Tech (002074.SZ) and Slovakian partner InoBat have invested 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in the plant as Slovakia’s car industry shifts to electric vehicles.
Slovakia, which makes Volkswagen models for export, is also wary of being hit by potential counter-tariffs following the bloc’s decision on Chinese electric cars. Beijing has already hinted at imposing duties on big-engine petrol cars.
Xi reiterated China’s stance on EU tariffs, urging EU institutions to pursue “positive and pragmatic policies towards China” and avoid politicising economic and trade issues.
