Premier: We Want to Elevate Our Relations with Japan to Strategic Partnership

Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has expressed his ambition to elevate relations with Japan to the level of a strategic partnership, describing the country as one of Slovakia's most important and most reliable partners in Asia, the Government Office's press department told TASR on Monday after Fico received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. The premier identified the economy, investment, industrial modernisation and new technologies as key areas for further cooperation. One of the main topics of discussion was the acquisition of U.S. Steel Kosice by Japan's Nippon Steel. The Slovak government regards this as a significant milestone in economic relations between Slovakia and Japan. "We regard the fact that U.S. Steel Kosice is passing into Japanese hands as a significant event for Slovak-Japanese economic relations. The government is prepared to provide maximum support in order to ensure that this project develops successfully. We want Kosice to remain a modern and competitive steelmaking centre," he said. Slovakia also welcomes Nippon's commitment to invest in the modernisation and decarbonisation of its production facilities in Kosice. It regards the planned construction of an electric arc furnace as an important step. "The decarbonisation of industry is essential, but it mustn't lead to the destruction of industry. We need investment in new technologies, but at the same time we must protect the competitiveness of Slovak businesses. This is in Slovakia's interest, and I believe it's also in Japan's," emphasised Fico. The prime minister also stated that Slovakia wants to create opportunities for new Japanese investment and to deepen cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, digitisation and hydrogen technologies. Motegi's visit is the first by a Japanese Foreign Minister to Slovakia in 19 years. It's also directly linked to a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) and Japan that is due to take place on 1 September. am/df