China pledges to enhance cooperation with Slovakia

BELGRADE, Dec. 16  -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged on Tuesday to enhance cooperation with Slovakia in various fields and lift bilateral relations to higher levels.

Hailing the development of bilateral relations, Li said in a meeting with his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, that China stands ready to further promote the relationship on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win results.

China supports its enterprises participating in nuclear power, hydropower and highway projects as well as the construction of industrial parks in Slovakia, Li said, calling on Slovakia to support those companies and provide them with a level playing field.

Meanwhile, Li said China is willing to join efforts with Slovakia in organizing next year the second seminar on technological innovation cooperation and international technology transfer between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Fico, for his part, said his country is ready to work with China to transfer the sound development of bilateral ties into substantial cooperation.

Slovakia will make good use of the China-CEE Investment Cooperation Fund to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as nuclear power, hydropower, highway, tourism and culture, Fico said.

The Slovak prime minister also pledged to provide convenience for Chinese companies to increase investment and for Chinese financial institutions to set up offices in his country.

Li arrived here Monday for a China-CEE leaders' meeting and an official visit to Serbia.