Slovenia is anxious to promote political, economic, and trade cooperation with China, as well as cooperation in the international arena, Slovenian Foreign Minister Boris Frlec said in Beijing on November 11.

Sino-Slovenian relations have been good in both quality and quantity, and there are no problems between the two countries, Frlec said in an interview with Xinhua.

Frlec is here for a five-day visit to China. During his stay, Frlec and his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan discussed bilateral relations and the situation in southeastern Europe. He is scheduled to meet with Vice-President Hu Jintao and Vice-Chairman Buhe of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress tomorrow.

He said the purpose of his visit is to intensify Sino-Slovenian relations, economic links in particular, and to expand Slovenia's cooperation with China to the central and western regions of China.

The two countries have had a series of high-level exchanges of visits since the establishment of diplomatic relations seven years ago.

Slovenian President Milan Kucan visited China in 1996 and Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen also visited Slovenia that year. In addition, the two countries have also signed a series of agreements related to investment, economy, trade and taxation.

The Slovenian foreign minister said that during his visit, the two countries agreed to maintain political dialog and high-level visits, adding that Slovenia also hopes that enterprises of the two countries will have "direct and practical" cooperation in the software and auto industries.

He also noted the good cooperation in the United Nations between the two countries, saying that both adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and pursue dialog based on mutual respect.

Frlec expressed his admiration for China's tremendous achievements over the past years in terms of economic growth and the promotion of the welfare of the Chinese people.

He said it is beyond beliefs that the government has made such great efforts to benefit the people in a peaceful and stable society.