On December 14, 2019 local time, Prime Minister Marjan Sarec of Slovenia met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Ljubljana.

Marjan Sarec said, Slovenia-China friendly cooperation is based on mutual respect and understanding. The sound development of bilateral relations is a good example of the cooperation between Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) and China, as well as between the European Union (EU) and China. Slovenia attaches importance to developing relations with China, and hopes to work with China to strengthen cooperation in innovation. The Slovenian side supports its companies in seeking cooperation in China and welcomes more Chinese companies' investment and operation in Slovenia. The Slovenian side actively supports the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative, and hopes to enhance cooperation in infrastructure connectivity including the deepwater port project, and foster demonstration projects for China's entry into the European market and the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative between Europe and China. The Slovenian side is ready to play a more active role in promoting the "17+1 cooperation".

Wang Yi noted, Slovenia is China's friendly partner in the EU and also an important partner of China-CEEC cooperation. Both sides should take high-quality cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative, promotion of the "17+1 cooperation" and fostering China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization as the three engines to further synergize the development strategies, and enhance cooperation in the four key areas of scientific and technological innovation, high-end manufacturing, medicine and healthcare and winter sports. Both sides need to promote infrastructure connectivity including ports and railways, forge new growth points including green development, digital economy and artificial intelligence, and constantly enlarge mutually beneficial cooperation in new areas, in a bid to break new ground for China-Slovenia relations.

Wang Yi said, the Chinese side has always supported the development and growth of the EU, the process of European integration, and the EU's greater role in the international arena, in its good days and bad days regardless. China-CEEC cooperation, as a beneficial supplement to China-EU cooperation, helps CEECs accelerate their own development and contribute to the balanced development and integration process of the EU. China will host the China-CEEC Summit next year. The Slovenian side is welcome to actively participate in the summit to make new contributions to promoting more vigorous development of China-Slovenia relations and China-EU relations.