INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that the China-Slovakia strategic partnership has entered a "fast lane" since Slovak Prime
Minister Robert Fico visited China in November last year.Xi made the remarks as he met with Fico on the sidelines of celebrations marking
the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War in Moscow.Promoting the comprehensive, in-depth and high-level
development of China–Slovakia relations is in the fundamental interests of both peoples and accords with the historical trend of open
cooperation and mutual benefit, Xi said.He said both sides should continue to deepen their traditional friendship, strengthen high-level
exchanges, firmly support one another, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly advance the high-quality development of the Belt
and Road Initiative, promoting steady and long-lasting relations between China and Slovakia, and between China and EU.China stands ready to
work together with Slovakia and other countries to meet challenges and uphold international fairness and justice, Xi said.He also expressed
hopes that Slovakia will play an active role in promoting continuous development of China-EU relations.Fico said deepening the
Slovakia-China strategic partnership is a top priority of Slovakia's foreign policy.Slovakia will firmly adhere to the one-China policy,
actively advance friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, strengthen trade and investment ties, foster closer cultural and
people-to-people exchanges, and work to achieve greater progress in bilateral relations, he added.A healthy and stable EU-China relationship
serves the common interests of both sides, and Slovakia is committed to promoting its development, Fico said, adding that Slovakia supports
China's major initiatives, such as building a community with a shared future for mankind, and appreciates China's positions and constructive
role on issues such as Ukraine and the Middle East.Slovakia is willing to join China in upholding multilateralism, defending free trade
rules, and maintaining stability of global production and supply chains, he said.
