Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico Tuesday invited more
Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Slovakia, promising to provide
favorable tax policies and a sound investment environment.
Addressing a China-Slovakia business forum in Beijing, Fico said
economic and trade cooperation between Slovakia and China has
developed well. The two sides have signed a number of agreements
worth millions of US dollars, in sectors such as construction,
machinery, medical science, electronics and agriculture.
He said he was hoping to see large-scale Chinese investments in
Slovakia. Compared to the US$12 billion China has invested in the
neighboring Czech Republic, which in many respects is similar to
Slovakia, Fico said he was disappointed at the low figures for his
own country. But he did not give the exact numbers.
Representatives from some 100 Chinese companies and nearly 20
Slovakian companies attended the forum, holding one-on-one
consultations.
Fico promised to provide favorable commercial policies for
Chinese investors, including certain exemptions, industrial zones
and improved infrastructure.
Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that the trade
volume between China and Slovakia in 2006 amounted to US$913.68
million, up 85.9 percent year-on-year.
Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Zengwei said bilateral economic
cooperation had considerable potential. He encouraged experienced
Chinese companies to explore opportunities in Slovakia and invited
Slovakian companies to take part in China's drive to develop the
remote hinterland and the rustbelt in the northeast.
Later, Fico delivered a speech on Slovakia's foreign policy at
the China Institute of International Studies.
Tuesday was the second day of Fico's five-day official visit to
China. A guest of Premier Wen, this is his first China visit since
he assumed the office of prime minister last July.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2007)
