During a three-day state visit to China, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini met with President Xi Jinping to discuss potential bilateral cooperation. The discussions focused on expanding partnerships in emerging technology sectors, specifically artificial intelligence, robotics, and clean energy. This meeting is significant as it represents the first visit by a Slovak leader to China in over a decade and a half.

The diplomatic engagement comes at a time of heightened trade friction between Beijing and the European Union. While the EU has recently moved to impose tariffs on various Chinese goods, Slovakia has maintained a relatively warmer diplomatic stance toward China compared to some of its European counterparts. As both a member of the EU and NATO, Slovakia is currently navigating the complex geopolitical challenge of maintaining its Western alliances while seeking economic opportunities through Chinese investment.

While the SCMP reports that the meeting was centered on technological collaboration, it notes that the broader context is defined by the ongoing trade disputes between China and the European bloc. The visit highlights a divergence in strategy among European nations, with Slovakia positioning itself as a country open to deeper economic ties with Beijing despite the cooling relations between China and the EU as a whole.