Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will visit China from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, aiming to deepen Slovakia’s economic and strategic ties outside its traditional EU and NATO alliances, his government announced Tuesday. During his trip, Fico will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang and inaugurate a business forum in Beijing.
Fico, who has criticized EU policies on Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, sees the visit as his most significant of the year. “This is… the most important trip I will make in 2024,” he told parliament, highlighting discussions on peaceful solutions for Ukraine and enhanced economic cooperation with China. Slovakia recently opposed EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, and Fico’s agenda includes a visit to Gotion’s plant in China, as the company prepares to partner with InoBat to build an EV battery factory in Slovakia.