Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia recently concluded what he called the “most important trip of the year” with his official visit to China. According to President Fico, China is becoming a decisive global player as European leaders follow suit.
His delegation, which included several ministers and 80 business representatives, reflects Slovakia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with China across various sectors.
During his visit, Prime Minister Fico met with Chinese President Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“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,” says President Jinping.
He emphasised China’s willingness to collaborate with Slovakia to open a new chapter in their relationship, raising bilateral ties to a higher level. According to President Jinping, the two nations need to deepen political mutual trust by maintaining high-level exchanges, strengthening strategic communication, and upholding principles of mutual respect, equality, and benefit.
The visit, as reported by Chinese news network CGTN, came amid Europe’s economic challenges, such as high unemployment and increased trade tensions with China. Recently, the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, with duties ranging from 17 to 35.3 percent.
According to a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Zhao Junjie , PM Fico’s visit could positively impact China-EU relations by providing a model for pragmatic cooperation.
PM Fico’s trip had originally been planned for June but was postponed due to an assassination attempt in May, as reported by Slovak news outlet Hnonline.sk. During a session of the National Council of Slovakia, PM Fico highlighted the strategic nature of his visit, calling it “the most significant trip of the year”.
President Jinping outlined areas for expanded cooperation, emphasising the potential of the newly established inter-governmental cooperation committee to align efforts in new energy, transportation and logistics, infrastructure, and water resources management.
He also encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest in Slovakia and welcomed Slovak companies to explore opportunities within the Chinese market. Reflecting Slovakia’s openness to Chinese investment, PM Fico toured Gotion High-tech Co., a Chinese lithium battery manufacturer planning to partner with Slovak companies to establish an EV battery plant.
Given that the automotive sector constitutes nearly half of Slovakia’s industrial output, this collaboration represents a step forward in adopting advanced technology for EV production.
Addressing potential economic risks, PM Fico dismissed concerns that closer ties with China threaten Slovakia’s economy, instead identifying the EU’s Green Deal as a significant challenge, which he believes could lead to difficult economic times for Slovakia in the coming year.
PM Fico’s visit also marked the 75th anniversary of China-Slovakia diplomatic relations, underscoring Slovakia’s long-standing connection with China. China remains Slovakia’s largest trading partner outside the EU, and as an early participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, Slovakia leverages its strategic position as a central hub for Europe-Asia transportation.
In this context, President Jinping emphasised the importance of promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges, calling for expanded dialogue among political parties, local governments, youth, think tanks, and the media.
President Jinping suggested using platforms like Confucius Institutes to bolster public support for China-Slovakia friendship across generations.
According to Zhao, PM Fico’s pragmatic approach could help counterbalance recent strains in China-EU relations. Zhao pointed out that political trust between China and the EU has weakened due to recent trade disputes and geopolitical tensions, notably those related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the EU’s growing alignment with the U.S.
PM Fico’s visit exemplifies Slovakia’s interest in preserving strategic autonomy within Europe while pursuing mutually beneficial economic and technological partnerships with China.
The high-level visit aligns with a broader trend of European leaders engaging with China in 2024.
Since the beginning of the year, European leaders and cabinet ministers have visited China in succession, from Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda, to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. President Fico’s participation in this trend illustrates Europe’s growing interest in building trust and addressing shared global challenges through diplomatic channels.
To further facilitate this exchange, China has granted Slovak citizens 15-day visa-free entry, encouraging cultural and economic ties. Through this engagement, Slovakia aims to attract Chinese investment and stimulate its industries, setting a collaborative example for China-CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) cooperation.
As more China-Europe freight trains pass through Slovakia, this deepening partnership may contribute to regional stability and fosters development.
