On January 6, 2003, President Jiang Zemin held talks with visiting Slovak President Rudolf Schuster at the Great Hall of the People.

President Jiang said that the shared will of China and Slovakia to maintain and develop bilateral relations has never changed and Sino-Slovak relationship has always developed stably since the two countries established full diplomatic ties ten years ago, despite the great changes in the international as well as domestic situations. Jiang said that there have been continuous high-level exchanges and increasingly strengthening political mutual trust between the two countries. He said that exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have been expanded in all fields, including economy, science and technology, culture, military, education and sports, with remarkable results achieved. He also said that local and non-governmental exchanges between the two countries have become more and more active, and the two countries have supported and coordinated with each other in international organizations, which is to the satisfaction of the Chinese side.

Jiang noted that China attaches great importance to developing bilateral relations with Slovakia, considering Slovakia an important partner of cooperation and a trustworthy friend in central and eastern Europe. He said that there are neither suspending issues involving two countries nor questions or conflicts of fundamental interests between the two countries. It is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples to consolidate and intensify bilateral relations. He said that the Chinese side will work together with the Slovak side to promote friendly cooperation in all the fields in accordance with the guiding principles set forth in the joint statement.

On bilateral economic and trade ties, Jiang said that joint efforts made by both sides have boosted bilateral trade in the past one decade. Gratifyingly, the Shentou power plant project has been officially launched, injecting impetus into the further growth of bilateral trade. He also said the Chinese side has meanwhile noted that the general level of economic and trade cooperation, with a lot of potentials yet to be tapped, does not match the economic strength of the two countries. He said that China welcomes Slovakian enterprises to participate in China's Western Development and construction of the Beijing Olympic Games and Shanghai World Expo venues, adding that China also supports famed and influential Chinese companies investing in Slovakia.

Jiang said that in order to maintain the developing momentum of economic and trade cooperation, governmental departments of both sides in charge of economy should play the role of macro- guidance. He suggested that the two sides should take full advantage of the mechanism of the inter-governmental commission for economic and trade cooperation, strengthen mutual coordination and consultation, investigate and solve problems emerging in economic and trade cooperation, act as a go-between for the expansion of cooperation between enterprises, and take concrete measures to facilitate personnel, commodity and capital flow between the two countries. Jiang also said that China appreciates the Slovakian government's adherence to the One China policy.

Schuster said in the past decade, China has made great achievements under the leadership of President Jiang, which has benefited the people of China and is favorable to the people of the whole world. He said Slovakia attaches great importance to bilateral relations with China and adheres to the One China policy and is willing to cooperate with China in every field. He said that though Slovakia is a European country and will join the European Union soon, Slovakia-China relations will continue to be one of the focuses of Slovakia's foreign policy. Schuster said that Slovakia highly values China's diplomatic achievements and its contribution to international affairs. He also congratulated China on winning the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and he said Slovakia is willing to participate in venue construction.

Moreover, Schuster said he hopes that his current China visit will further strengthen bilateral friendly ties.