I. Review of the Bilateral Political Relations

On October 6, 1949 China and the former Czechoslovakia established diplomatic relations. When the Slovak Republic became an independent sovereign state on January 1, 1993, China extended its recognition and set up diplomatic relations with it at ambassadorial level on the same day. And all the treaties and agreements concluded between China and the former Czech and Slovak Federal Republic remain effective so far as the Slovak Republic is concerned. In recent years, there has been smooth development in the relations between the two countries with personnel exchanges at all levels increased and the area of cooperation expanded.

In February 1994, Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar of the Slovak Government visited China at the invitation of Premier Li Peng. In August 1994, the vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Ye Xuanping paid a visit to Slovakia. In October 1994, Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo went to Slovakia for consultation between the foreign ministries of the two countries, and with Secretary of State of the Slovak Foreign Ministry, signed the protocol on cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

In April 1995, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen paid a visit to Solvakia. In September 1995, Gasparovic, chairman of the Slovak National Assembly, visited China. In April 1996, Slovak President Michal Kovac paid a visit to China. In March 1997, Slovak Prime Minister Meciar twice transited through Beijing during his overseas trip. In May 1997, Slovak Foreign Minister Hamrik visited China. In June 1997, the Chinese and Slovak Governments reached agreement on retention of the Slovak Honorary Consulate in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region after July 1, 1997 and exchanged notes for that purpose. In August 1998, the vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) Peng Peiyun visited Slovakia. In October 1999, Slovak National Assembly Chairman Jozef Migas visited China. In June 2000, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng paid an official goodwill visit to Slovakia. In January 2002, Hrusovsky, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak National Assembly, visited China. In May, Fu Quanyou, Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, visited Slovakia.

II. Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations and Economic and Technological Cooperation

After Slovakia became independent in January 1993, China and Slovakia began to carry out economic and trade cooperation directly.

According to the statistics of the Chinese customs, the trade volume between China and Slovakia stands US$40.85 million in 1993, US$24.07 million 1994, US$68.08 million 1995, US$77.43 million 1996, US$33.71 million in 1997, US$34.57 million in 1998, and US$29.07 million in 1999. In 2000, the total trade volume is US$55.99 million, increasing by 92.6% over 1999. Of the total volume, China's export is US$40.36 million and import US$15.63 million, increasing by 49% and 694.1% over 1999 respectively. Up to the end of 1999, the contracted amount of the Slovak investment in China is US$7.3 million and the actual amount of investment US$2.03 million. In 2001, it was U.S.$ 74.28 million. In January-July 2002, it reached U.S.$ 66.79 million, up 61.4% than the same period of the previous year. China's export was U.S.$ 47.14 million, up 40.8%, its import was U.S.$ 19.65 million, up 148.9%. By the end of 2001, Slovakian-funded projects in China numbered 15, with U.S.$ 18.71 million of contractual capital and U.S.$ 13.94 million of used capital.

In 1993, China and Slovakia initialed an economic and trade agreement. During the Slovak prime minister's visit to China in 1994, the two sides signed the economic and trade agreement between the Governments of the two countries, which recognizes the continued validity of the agreements signed by China and the former Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, namely, the agreement on avoidance of double taxation, the agreement on protection of investment and the agreement on tariff cooperation.

III. Bilateral Exchanges and Cooperation in Culture, Science and Technology and Education

After the establishment of diplomatic relations, the development of cultural exchanges between the two countries was on a normal track. During Prime Minister Meciar's visit to China in 1994, the two sides signed the 1994-1995 cultural cooperation program. In February 1994, China held the Tibetan Art Exhibition in the Slovak capital. In September 1996, Chinese Vice Cultural Minister Ai Qingchun visited Slovakia and the two sides signed the 1996-1998 cultural exchange program between the cultural ministries of the two countries. In June 1997, Slovak Cultural Minister Ivan Hudec paid a visit to China. In June 1998, the Slovak Cultural Week was held in Beijing. In May 2000, Slovak Cultural Minister visited China, and the two sides signed the protocol on the extension of the program of cooperation between the cultural ministries of the two countries. The Slovak Cultural Day was held during the Slovak minister's visit to China.

In February 1997, Slovak Minister Eva Slavkovska of Education, Science and Technology led a science and technology delegation to visit China, and the two sides signed the agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the Governments of the two countries. In April 1998, Vice Minister Li Xueyong of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and Secretary of State Andrei Niemchok of the Ministry of Education of Slovakia singed in Beijing on behalf of their respective governments the protocol on the first session of the Sino-Slovak Joint Committee of Cooperation in Science and Technology.

In July 1994, Secretary of State of the Slovak Ministry of Education and Science visited China, and with the leader of the Chinese State Education Commission, signed the 1994-1997 program of educational cooperation between the two countries. In May 1998, Slovak Minister of Education, Science and Technology came to China to sign the 1998-2001 program of educational cooperation between the two countries. In October 1999, Slovak Education Minister accompanied Speaker Jozef Migas on the China visit. In 2000, there were one Chinese teacher teaching Chinese language at a Slovak university and two post-graduate students studying in Slovakia. There were seven Slovak students studying in China.

In April 1995, Vice Minister Liu Ji, of the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission of China led a delegation to visit Slovakia. On May 19, 1998 the Sino-Slovak mountaineering team successfully reached the peak of Jolmo Lungma.

In September-October 2001, China National Art Troupe, composed of Xiangxiong Art Troupe of the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet and Dunhuang Art Troupe of Gansu Province, made a performing tour in Slovakia.

In March 2002, the second meeting of the China-Slovakia Joint Science and Technology Commission was held in Slovakia and reached agreement on 14 projects of cooperation.

In December 2001, China and Slovakia signed the 2001-2004 Plan on Cooperation in Education between the two ministries of education. In June 2002, Zhao Qinping, Chinese Vice Minster of Education, visited Slovakia. In 2002, one Chinese teacher works in Slovakia while 11 Chinese students study there. There are 6 Slovak students in China.

In September 2002, China and Slovakia signed the 2002-2003 Sports Exchanges Plan.

(Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn)