Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 1, 2024. Photo: cnsphoto

  China and Slovakia have decided to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, which  meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and strong momentum into bilateral cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while meeting with visiting Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday.
  Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Slovakia, Xi said that after three-quarters of a century of development, the traditional friendship between the two countries is full of vitality, and the cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
  We have decided to elevate China-Slovakia relations to a strategic partnership, which meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and powerful momentum into bilateral cooperation, Xi said, adding that China is willing to work together with Slovakia to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and lift their ties to a higher level.
  China has decided to grant 15-day visa-free entry to Slovak citizens, Xi added.
  China attaches great importance to China-EU relations, Xi said, adding that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and China-EU relations should demonstrate due maturity and stability.
  For his part, Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China. 
Slovakia appreciates China's decision to grant Slovak citizens the 15-day visa-free treatment, Fico said. Slovakia supports facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy and infrastructure, he added.
  The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi expounded on China's consistent principle and position, commending Slovakia for adopting an objective, rational and impartial stance. He welcomed Slovakia, as well as more like-minded countries, to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.
The two governments on Friday released a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership. It said that friendship and cooperation have always been the mainstream of bilateral relations and are in line with the common and long-term interests of the two peoples. 
  During the visit, Fico also met Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.
  Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held talks with Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar on Friday. Wang said that Fico's visit is rich in content and fruitful.
Pragmatic cooperation
  In the current complex geopolitical environment, the elevation of relations between China and Slovakia holds significant positive implications, said Yan Shaohua, a research associate professor at the Center for China-Europe Relations, Fudan University.
  He noted that due to the trade frictions and renewal of the leadership in the EU's main institutions, China-EU relations have  experienced some twists and turns. The elevation of China-Slovakia relations helps improve political trust between China and Central and Eastern European nations, while also sending a positive signal that both sides are eager to stabilize their bilateral relations, Yan said.
  Amid Europe's current economic challenges, Central and Eastern European countries are seeking to attract Chinese investment and pursue high-tech cooperation as a path for future growth. Slovakia's unique strengths in traditional automobile manufacturing, electromechanical products, and the chemical industry offer promising conditions for collaboration with China, said Zhao Junjie, senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 
  According to a release from the Slovak government's press office, in addition to visiting Beijing, Prime Minister Fico will travel to Hefei in East China's Anhui Province to visit Chinese battery maker Gotion, and travel to Shanghai to attend the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo.
  The locations in East China that Fico will visit are known for their rapid economic development and leading role in driving China's innovation, said Zhao, noting the potential for expanding cooperation on electric vehicles (EVs) and battery production.  
  Cooperation between China and Slovakia in areas such as automobile manufacturing, electromechanical products, and high technology not only benefits countries like Slovakia but also provides opportunities to strengthen China-EU relations. Fico's visit is expected to yield meaningful results and conducive to improving and stabilizing these ties, said the expert. 
  Yan also noted that the meeting between Xi and Fico will have a positive impact on China-EU relations. Despite the EU's decision to impose tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs, negotiations between the two sides are still ongoing, and Slovakia holds significant influence within the European automotive supply chain.