Due to the substantial differences in the size of their economies and populations, Slovakia and China should focus on their mutual economic relations involving a few big projects, said Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday, April 26, after meeting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Warsaw.
"I've defined the interest in investments ... in the spheres of infrastructure and tourism," Fico specified, as quoted by the TASR newswire. According to him, China's decision to invest more extensively in central Europe should be appreciated, as it offers the countries co-operation in the sphere of science. It also brings scholarship possibilities at educational institutions in China for foreign students. Slovak foreign affairs should, therefore, become more concentrated on China, Fico said. "I hope that our foreign affairs policies, which should concentrate especially on the economic dimension, will become much more successful in terms of trade and commerce with China. Other European countries have gained quite significant projects and the new Slovak government has to follow suit," Fico stressed.
As one example, he mentioned a potential flight connection between Slovakia and China, a project that is currently in the works. When it comes to human rights issues, Fico said that it is not Slovakia's task to initiate such a discussion, so neither of the two sides raised the topic.
Sources: Sme, TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
