Hu calls on Chinese, Slovakian business people to step up co-op

BRATISLAVA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday called on business people from China and Slovakia to join hands in promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with Slovakian President Ivan Gasparovic for talks in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia June 18, 2009.(Xinhua Photo)

At a breakfast meeting for business people from both countries, Hu put forward a five-point proposal for strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

First, both sides should further promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation with an eye to the future.

Second, they should strengthen communication and further improve governmental services so as to provide better facilities for bilateral business cooperation.

Third, they should explore their own advantages to push forward bilateral cooperation in some key areas.

The Chinese government encourages Chinese enterprises to take part in Slovakia's infrastructural construction covering energy, highways, railways and telecommunications, Hu said.

He said the Chinese government also encourages both sides to conduct substantial cooperation in research and development, labor, project engineering and new energy.