Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing and the two sides agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

Fico is on an official visit to China from October 31 to November 5.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Xi said the two countries have yielded fruitful results in bilateral cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

The elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership meets the future development needs of both countries and will inject new and strong impetus into bilateral cooperation, he said.

China is ready to work with Slovakia to promote a new chapter of bilateral relations, he said.

Xi put forward four proposals to continuously promote the upgrading of China-Slovakia ties.

First, he called for maintaining high-level exchanges, strengthening strategic communication, adhering to mutual respect and trust, equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win results, and taking care of each other's core interests and major concerns.

Second, he urged efforts to expand practical cooperation. The two sides should make good use of the newly-established inter-governmental cooperation committees to strengthen the alignment in fields such as new energy, transportation, logistics, infrastructure and water resources management.

Third, the Chinese president called for promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges. 

He urged efforts to conduct communication and dialogue between political parties, local governments, youth, think tanks and media, and make good use of platforms such as the Confucius Institute to consolidate the public opinion foundation for bilateral friendship.

China has decided to grant a 15-day visa-free entry policy for Slovak citizens visiting China, Xi said.

Fourth, he called on both countries to uphold true multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law and advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, aiming to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China attaches great importance to its relations with the European Union (EU), Xi said, adding that China-EU relations should demonstrate maturity and stability as next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides.

He expressed the hope that the new EU institutional leadership will adopt active and pragmatic policies towards China, properly manage differences, and avoid politicizing economic and trade issues.

For his part, Fico said Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy, adding that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

The Slovak side opposes any interference in other countries' internal affairs, he said.

Thanking China for granting a 15-day visa-free entry policy for Slovak citizens visiting China, Fico said his country supports the facilitation of personnel exchanges between the two countries to enhance mutual understanding.

He expressed the welcome of more Chinese enterprises to invest in Slovakia to strengthen cooperation in new energy, infrastructure and other fields.

The Slovak side appreciates the three global initiatives proposed by President Xi, he said, calling for opposing unilateralism and hegemony.

Slovakia is ready to work with China to enhance multilateral communication and collaboration, promote and improve global governance, strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance and actively promote the EU's commitment to properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation, he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi elaborated on China's consistent stance on the issue and appreciated Slovakia's objective, rational and fair attitude.

He said China welcomes Slovakia and more like-minded countries to work together to play a positive role in promoting peace talks.

Praising China's stance on the crisis as fair, objective and constructive, Fico said Slovakia is willing to join the "Friends of Peace" platform on the Ukraine crisis and contribute to a political settlement of the crisis with China.

After the talks, the two sides issued a joint statement.