Prospects for economic cooperation between Slovakia and China.

During the 2026 China-Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Local Leaders Summit, Lucia Skvareninová, Economic Advisor at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in China, commented on the prospects for economic cooperation between Slovakia and China.

She positively assessed the current direction of China's economic development, noting that the country is increasingly focused on high-value-added industries, particularly in the areas of digitalization, automation, and green technologies. She described this transformation process as a significant and impressive development.

She paid particular attention to cooperation in the automotive industry. She pointed out that the automotive sector accounts for approximately ten percent of Slovakia's GDP and is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation towards electric mobility. She noted that the rapid development of electric vehicles in China, coupled with government support, is attracting considerable attention.

Skvareninová recalled that some Chinese brands and investment projects are already operating in Slovakia, including the planned construction of a manufacturing plant in Košice. She emphasized that cooperation in the areas of electric vehicles and battery production is very important for Slovakia, as it can support the transformation of industry and mitigate its impact on the domestic economy.

In addition to industrial cooperation, she also highlighted the importance of linguistic and cultural ties. She stated that, with China's growing importance on the world stage, direct interpersonal communication is becoming increasingly important. She praised the growing number of Slovak students studying the Chinese language and also pointed out that the thirty-day visa-free regime for Slovak citizens contributes to closer contacts between the two countries.

According to her, these measures allow entrepreneurs and tourists to better experience China firsthand, reduce communication barriers, and create opportunities for deeper cooperation in various areas, including at the regional level.

The advisor also stated that the Slovak embassy maintains a direct communication mechanism with Shandong. She said that participating in events in this region provided a suitable opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss future cooperation projects. She expressed confidence that further development of practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest can bring positive results for both sides.¨

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Translation: legacy (English)