From Shoes to Robots: How Innovation Elevates China–Slovakia Cooperation

In the 1990s, while the newly independent Slovakia and China established diplomatic relations and signed a trade agreement, textiles, furniture and home appliances, known as the "old three," symbolized China's rise as a global manufacturing hub. Slovakia exported to China mainly cars, motors and steel products, while the latter supplied electronic devices, textiles and home appliances.

By 2024, as the two countries elevated their ties to a strategic partnership, China's "new three," electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar panels, emerged as building blocks of Slovakia's green industrial transition.

Now, with AI, robotics and innovative pharmaceuticals emerging as China's new "new three," Slovak President Peter Pellegrini's visit to Beijing this year signals another evolution in relations, one increasingly shaped by industrial innovation.

China's "new three" transformed not only China, but Slovakia too

China's "new three" are often viewed simply as export successes. In Slovakia, however, they are becoming part of the country's industrial infrastructure.

Slovakia has long been one of the world's leading automobile producers. Yet the European Union's plan to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035 posed a challenge. Battery production accounts for roughly 30-40% of an electric vehicle's added value. Without domestic battery manufacturing, much of that value creation risks moving elsewhere.

This is precisely where China–Slovakia cooperation has become strategically important.

The joint venture between China's Gotion High-Tech and Slovakia's InoBat planned to build a factory in Šurany with an investment exceeding €1.2 billion. Designated by the Slovak government as a critical investment, the project is scheduled to launch formal production in 2027.

The partnership also carries wider European significance. While the EU imposed additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, Slovakia opposed the move and instead sought to position itself as a bridge between Chinese manufacturers and European markets. Localized battery production helps mitigate the impact of trade barriers while strengthening Europe's electric vehicle supply chain with components manufactured on the continent.

Beyond EVs and batteries, renewable energy is another area of cooperation. The 2024 China–Slovakia Strategic Partnership identified new energy as an important area for bilateral cooperation. The Slovak government has allocated €50 million to expand charging stations and plans to install 3,000 additional charging points by the end of this year. Chinese expertise in solar and energy storage technologies could provide integrated solutions for this transition.

The new "new three": a new generation of cooperation

If the first stage of cooperation focused on industrial transformation, the next could center on the technologies shaping tomorrow's economy.

President Pellegrini's visit offered several indications of this direction. He visited Robot Mall, the world’s first embodied intelligence robotic hub in Beijing, where he experienced robotic systems firsthand and identified the area as future priorities for cooperation.

China has maintained the world's largest industrial robotics market for years, exporting robotic technologies to more than 140 countries and regions. Slovakia's automotive industry is entering a phase where smarter production lines, battery manufacturing automation and intelligent logistics will become increasingly important.

Artificial intelligence offers a complementary partnership. China has developed globally competitive capabilities in foundation models, industrial AI applications and computing infrastructure, applying AI across manufacturing, energy management and transportation. Slovakia, meanwhile, sits at the heart of the European Union and possesses valuable expertise in European regulatory frameworks and market requirements.

Rather than competing, the two countries could leverage these complementary strengths. China could contribute AI technologies, computing infrastructure and industrial digitalization solutions, while Slovakia could provide an entry point for compliant deployment across Central and Eastern Europe. Together, they could establish regional AI service platforms that combine technological capability with regulatory compatibility.

Equally important, both countries have advocated for AI governance frameworks. That shared perspective creates additional room for cooperation beyond purely commercial interests.

Healthcare is another area where the two economies are increasingly complementary. China now accounts for around 30% of the world's innovative drugs under development, ranking second globally, and has developed integrated capabilities across research, clinical trials and manufacturing. Slovakia's mature healthcare system and familiarity with EU pharmaceutical regulation could make it an attractive entry point for Chinese biopharmaceutical companies seeking to expand into Central and Eastern Europe, while creating opportunities for collaboration in clinical research and innovation.

China's commitment to further opening-up during its 15th Five-Year Plan aligns with Slovakia's Vision 2040 development strategy. As both countries pursue long-term economic modernization, cooperation built around the "new three" industries and the emerging new "new three" technologies offers a framework that extends beyond trade to joint innovation. This evolving partnership could deliver benefits not only for both countries, but also offer a practical example of how Europe and China can cooperate on innovation despite an increasingly complex global environment.

Author: Dou Hongyu, global affairs commentator based in Beijing, China

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