Fico to Discuss Beijing's Involvement in Peace Process during Visit to China

Bratislava, October 16 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said on Wednesday that during his upcoming visit to China, he'll discuss, among other matters, how Beijing can become more involved in the peace process concerning the war in Ukraine. Fico is set to visit China at the turn of October and November. He'll be accompanied by 80 Slovak entrepreneurs. The premier said that his government considers China to be a friendly country towards which it has no outstanding questions. "It's is a country which, with all due respect to our values and ideas of democracy, is going its own way. This path is clear and understandable for them and nobody can question it," the prime minister said, noting that he finds it ridiculous to dictate to China what to do. The country, he opined, cannot be governed in any other manner. "Let's respect the regime that China has chosen," he said, adding that China has an immense impact on both peace and European productivity. The premier reiterated his government's position on increasing import duties on electric cars from China, calling the idea nonsense. He noted that Slovakia produces the largest number of cars per capita of any country in the world. "China is 20 years ahead of us when it comes to electric cars," he stressed, adding that some European car companies are of the opinion that it makes no sense to compete with Chinese rivals. zel/mcs