The first ever meeting of the Slovak-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Strategic Partnership took place in Bratislava on Monday. The negotiations took place during the visit of the Chinese delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Hua Chunying. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic informed about it.
“Slovakia is interested in a pragmatic, substantive and predictable development of relations with China based on mutual respect and practical results. The strategic partnership that our government concluded with China creates an important framework for the continuation of political dialogue and the implementation of beneficial activities in areas that are a priority for the Slovak Republic.” declared the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD).
The meeting was opened by the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico (Smer-SD) with the participation of Blanár, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marek Eštok and representatives of other ministries. According to the department, the meeting is a practical result of the conclusion of a strategic partnership between the Slovak Republic and the People’s Republic of China during the Prime Minister’s official visit to China in November 2024.
Blanár held a bilateral meeting with the Chinese deputy minister, during which they highlighted the importance of the first meeting of the committee. “For a long time, China has been Slovakia’s most important trading partner in Asia, with a combined annual turnover exceeding 10 billion euros. Our dialogue focuses primarily on the support of investments, business ties, including exports, which will bring high added value to the Slovak economy.” he emphasized.
The department specified that at the committee, both sides set specific steps based on 13 agreements and memorandums of cooperation signed during the Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing. According to the ministry, Slovakia has defined its priorities with an emphasis on national interests, especially in the fields of economy, research, development and innovation, healthcare and education, including the support of exchange stays between universities.
The negotiations also included the signing of an agreement between the ministries of education of the Slovak Republic and the People’s Republic of China on the activities of Slovak-Chinese bilingual sections. In the cultural field, Slovakia plans to establish the Slovak Institute in Beijing.
The Chinese Deputy Minister also completed political consultations at the Ministry led by State Secretary Eštok. He emphasized that The Slovak Republic is firmly anchored in the European Union and its common policies, while he confirmed the position of the Slovak government to adhere to the one China policy. According to him, the Slovak side has also shown readiness to continue regular negotiations and to welcome visits at the level of the highest political representatives.
