Slovenia is at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) this year with a clear message: this small European economy is a gateway to the continent. During an exclusive interview with CGTN's Zhang Meng, Leon Korošec, Slovenia's state secretary, noted that nearly 80% of the country's GDP comes from international trade, making platforms like CIIE essential for connecting Slovenian companies with Chinese partners. He highlighted Slovenia's strengths in knowledge-intensive industries, its high concentration of industrial robots in manufacturing and the Port of Koper as a key entry point for goods into Europe. "At the end, it's all about relationships and partnership," he said, adding that a Slovenian-Chinese business forum held on the sidelines provided a direct platform for companies to meet potential clients.