Blanar: Slovakia Seeks Stronger Trade Ties with Indo-Pacific Region

Bandar Seri Begawan/Bratislava, 27 April (TASR) - Slovakia aims to intensify mutual trade and investment with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said during a meeting of EU and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers in Brunei. On the sidelines, Blanar also held a series of bilateral talks, including the first-ever ministerial-level meeting with his counterpart from East Timor, TASR was informed by the ministry's press department. "We want to be an active and reliable partner in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific. We are interested in utilising existing potential for businesses, while also attracting investments from this region, which is experiencing sustained economic growth and generates a significant share of global GDP," Blanar said. He pointed out that ASEAN countries represent one of the most dynamically developing regions in the world, with more than 680 million inhabitants and growing economic potential offering major opportunities for trade, investment and technological exchange. Slovakia is also focusing on strengthening political dialogue with Southeast Asian countries to gain support for accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and for its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Accession to the TAC would strengthen Slovakia's political engagement in Asia, Blanar noted. mf