September 13, 2016, Celje

Honorable Mr. Miro Cerar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia,

Honorable Mr. Mitja Bervar, President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia,

Honorable Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology,

Honorable Mr. Bojan Srot, Mayor of Celje,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

It gives me great pleasure to attend the opening ceremony of the 2016 Premium Mechatronic Brands China. On behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Slovenia, I wish to extend my warm congratulations on the opening of the exhibition.

Based on the initiatives of "one belt and one road" as well as "16 + 1 cooperation" mechanism, big progress has been made for the economic and trade cooperation between China and Slovenia in recent years. According to the Chinese statistics, this year from January to July, the bilateral trade volume amounted to 1.498 billion dollars, increased by 12 % year on year. China is Slovenia’s biggest trading partner in Asia. The Sino-Slovenia economic and trade cooperation also continue to broaden its cooperation areas. The APG of Zhejiang province injected 10 million Euros to Slovenia’s Elaphe company which obtained 20% of Elaphe’s stock share from the electric motor wheel manufacturer and will set up a new factory in China. Huawei established the branch company in Slovenia, China Union Pay and Slovenia Koper Bank jointly opened Unionpay business, Beijing Flying tiger company and Slovenia’s PIPISTREL company’s cooperation will make a big breakthrough. In April of this year, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Aeronautical Authorities of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Slovenia was signed, which has paved the way for opening the direct flight between the two countries. In addition, China Hi-tech group, ZTE, SanPower and other Chinese companies are also broadening and deepening cooperation with Slovenian partners in the fields such as automobile manufacture, telecommunications and softwares.

Since Premium Brands China has been successfully held here last year, the only Chinese theme exhibition in Slovenia has already served as an important platform in driving Sino-Slovenian economic and trade cooperations. For this year, more exhibitors are present and the scale is largely increased, we hope that this fair will continue to serve as a bridge, achieve greater outcomes, furtherly promote pragmatic bilateral economic and trade cooperations between China and Slovenia.

In conclusion, I wish this fair a great success.

Thank you!