Slovak president, Chinese FM meet on ties, cooperation

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bratislava, Slovakia, July 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Jiang Xue)

BRATISLAVA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Slovak President Zuzana Caputova met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the Slovak president said that her country admires the huge development achieved by China, respects China's sovereignty and firmly adheres to the one-China policy.

Noting this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Caputova said her country is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and welcomes China to expand its investments in Slovakia.

Speaking highly of the contributions China has made in environmental protection and carbon emission reduction, the president said Slovakia is willing to work with China to jointly tackle global challenges like climate change.

For his part, the Chinese foreign minister said that his visit is aimed to extend traditional friendship, restore trust, and seek cooperation.

China is willing to make joint efforts with Slovakia to strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, and respect and give consideration to each other's core interests and major concerns, Wang added.

China welcomes Slovakia to actively take part in the joint building of the Belt and Road as well as China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) cooperation, and share China's opening-up and development opportunities, he said.

The top Chinese diplomat noted that China is also willing to strengthen communication and dialogue with Slovakia to promote the healthy development of China-EU relations, and jointly push for a more open, inclusive, and win-win globalization.

On Wednesday, Wang also held a meeting with his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcak.

Wang Yi is currently on a week-long visit to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary from July 7 to 13. He has already visited Poland and is scheduled to visit Hungary after Slovakia.