Slovenian official upbeat on future bilateral ties with China

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) serves as a crucial platform that transcends traditional trade fair frameworks by fostering dialogue and partnerships, said Marko Lotrič, president of the National Council of Slovenia, during the expo.

"The CIIE is impressive in every respect — in its organization, scale and significance," Lotrič said in an exclusive interview with China Daily. "Through CIIE, China reaffirms its commitment to openness, inclusive development and global partnership."

The Slovenian pavilion at CIIE showcases the country as a green, technologically advanced and open European nation. "We want visitors to see Slovenia as a partner that builds bridges, values respect and trust, and believes in a future built together," Lotrič said.

This year marks Slovenia's strongest economic presence at the expo to date, with more than 70 business representatives from key industries showing up at the national pavilion, from fields like pharmaceuticals, advanced technologies, green energy, logistics and tourism.

"This demonstrates that Slovenia is ready to actively engage in one of the world's largest markets and contribute to sustainable global development," said Lotrič, noting that the true strength of CIIE lies in its ability to connect words with concrete actions, strengthening people-to-people ties — especially among companies, entrepreneurs and business leaders — which form the foundation of lasting partnerships.

To date, bilateral trade between China and Slovenia has remained stable, reaching 7.3 billion euros in 2024, making China Slovenia's fifth-largest trading partner.

"Slovenia may be small in size, but it is great in knowledge, ambition and reliability," Lotrič emphasized. "Cooperation with Slovenia means access to the European market, innovative solutions and high quality."

The potential of cooperation is enormous, the president said, highlighting opportunities in green technologies, circular economy and logistics. "With its strategic location and advanced logistics solutions, Slovenia serves as a natural bridge between Asia and Europe."

Looking ahead, Lotrič emphasized the alignment of Slovenian and Chinese objectives in areas such as green growth, digital transformation and innovation promotion. He expressed optimism about the future of bilateral cooperation, particularly in connecting markets and pursuing opportunities in third markets.

"Through continued dialogue, a stable financial environment and government support, we can develop concrete projects that generate added value and create new jobs," he said.