Beijing (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Chinese President Xi Jinping praised Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico for his “adherence” to its friendship with Beijing. He also expressed hope that Slovakia would help China develop its relations with the larger European Union.
Xi told Fico, who participated in a grand military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, that the international community requires greater unity and cooperation than ever before. Xi expressed hope that Slovakia would maintain a “positive” role in fostering China-European Union relations, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
China relies on certain EU countries, like Slovakia, to advocate for Beijing within the European Union, which has imposed high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles over claims of unfair competition. Slovakia was among the five EU nations that resisted these tariffs.
How is Fico seeking to accelerate Slovakia-China cooperation?
Robert Fico is keen to put Slovakia’s relationship with China into “fast motion”, focusing on deepening the Slovakia-China strategic partnership, expanding international trade and investment cooperation, and strengthening cooperation in cultural exchanges.
Slovakia is interested in attracting job-creating industrial investment from Chinese companies aiming at the European market. Chinese companies like Gotion High-Tech and Shenzhen Yilian have said they will develop plants in Slovakia that focus on manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) batteries and similar industries.
Fico will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. Earlier, he told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that he aims to normalise relations with the Kremlin, despite the EU’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports to punish Moscow for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
What was discussed at the previous Xi-Fico meeting in Moscow?
On May 9, 2025, Slovakian PM, Robert Fico, last met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow on the side of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union. Xi stressed that China-Slovakia relations should be developed in all areas and expressed satisfaction with the development of the China-Slovakia strategic partnership.
