In his speech, Rok Tomšič highlighted Slovenia's excellent geo-strategic location in the centre of Europe with easy access to the surrounding EU markets. The development of trade between the two countries is particularly noteworthy, with the Port of Koper being a key hub for access to hinterland markets in Central and Eastern Europe. China is Slovenia's fourth largest foreign trade partner, and imports from China to Slovenia have grown rapidly in recent years.

Mr Tomšič said that China has the greatest potential to boost Slovenian exports in Asia and we need to work together to find trade opportunities and promote Slovenian exports to China. Promising sectors where cooperation could be strengthened include logistics, tourism, sports and food products. Slovenia can offer Chinese companies a high-quality workforce, infrastructure and links to regional markets. Slovenia also has high-tech expertise, innovative companies and a high quality of life.

Mr Tomšič also referred to the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon to China, where, among other things, she opened the Slovenia-China Business Forum in Shanghai. She was accompanied by a 71-member business delegation, mainly from the logistics, tourism, energy, IT, automotive, food and wine industries.

Mr Tomšič went on to say that Slovenia sees the 14+1 initiative as a transparent, open, inclusive, result-oriented and practical mechanism, which should primarily serve as a platform for expanding economic cooperation and as a complementary mechanism to the existing EU-China dialogue. Slovenia expects a level playing field for its companies, respecting the principles of equal market access and fair competition. At the same time, the initiative offers many opportunities to strengthen cooperation in areas of common interest. However, within the framework of the initiative, concrete objectives for future cooperation need to be set – what we want to achieve and how.