Xi, Pellegrini Seek Stronger China-Slovakia Cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with trade, technology and China-European Union relations high on the agenda of their talks in Beijing.
Xi said China was ready to deepen its strategic partnership with Slovakia and broaden cooperation in emerging and strategic sectors, including clean energy, the digital economy, robotics and artificial intelligence.
The Chinese president also called on Slovakia to play a constructive role in promoting China-EU relations, stressing the need for dialogue and cooperation in managing differences.
Pellegrini, who is on a three-day state visit to China, urged Beijing to improve market access for Slovak companies as part of efforts to address Slovakia’s trade deficit with China.
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“I asked the President and members of the government for better access for Slovak companies to the Chinese market so that we could reduce the negative trade balance,” he said.
The Slovak president said Bratislava supported dialogue rather than confrontation between the European Union and China, warning that a trade war would serve neither side’s interests.
On artificial intelligence, Pellegrini said the two sides agreed on the need to ensure that the technology remained subject to human oversight.
The leaders also exchanged views on international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, with Pellegrini stressing that diplomatic engagement remained the only viable path towards a resolution.
Pellegrini also invited Xi to visit Slovakia, saying the Chinese president had responded positively to the invitation.
