Chinese President Xi Jinping and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during their meeting 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.
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 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.
Xi called on the two sides to focus on four aspects in elevating and upgrading bilateral ties.
First, Xi called for efforts to deepen political mutual trust. He said the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, uphold mutual respect, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit, and take into account each other's core interests and major concerns.
Second, Xi called for expanding practical cooperation. The two sides should effectively use the newly established intergovernmental cooperation committee, and strengthen synergy in fields such as new energy, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction, and water resources management, said Xi, noting that China encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Slovakia, and welcomes Slovak enterprises to explore market in China.
Third, Xi called for promoting people-to-people exchanges. He said China has decided to implement a 15-day visa-free policy for Slovak citizens.
Fourth, Xi called for enhanced international cooperation. Xi said the two sides should uphold true multilateralism, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally-beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, pursue a vision of global governance featuring shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Xi said China attaches high importance to the developing relations with the European Union (EU). Noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, Xi said the China-EU relations should show maturity and stability.
It is hoped that the new-term EU institutions will uphold the China-EU partnership, adopt a positive and practical China policy, properly manage differences, and avoid politicizing economic and trade issues, said Xi.
For his part, Fico said Slovakia is firmly committed to the one-China policy, and recognizes that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. He said he led a large delegation involving important cabinet members and entrepreneurs to visit China, aiming to show the great importance Slovakia places on and the positive attitude it holds towards developing ties with China.
He thanked China for its 15-day visa-free policy for Slovak citizens, noting Slovakia supports facilitation of people-to-people exchanges with China for better mutual understanding, and welcomes more investments from Chinese enterprises, as well as more bilateral cooperation in new energy, infrastructure and other fields.
Fico said Slovak appreciates the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, opposes unilateralism and hegemonism, and stands ready to strengthen multilateral communication and coordination with China to improve global governance and the welfare of humanity.
He said his country is willing to actively promote the EU's efforts in properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi stated China's consistent principled position, and appreciated Slovakia's objective, rational and fair attitude. Xi welcomed Slovakia and more like-minded countries to work with China and play a positive role in promoting talks for peace.
Fico said China's position on the Ukraine crisis is fair, objective and constructive, noting Slovakia is willing to join the group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis, and work with China to promote the political settlement of the crisis.
After the meeting, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.
Xi, Slovak PM meet in Beijing, agreeing to elevate ties
