Slovenia–China (Economic) Relations

Slovenia started cooperating with China already in the 18th century. Initially economic cooperation lagged behind political–cultural ones. Later economics started to dominate, particularly trade, while foreign direct investments and tourism became more important later but still lags much behind potential. A major barrier is the small size of the Slovenian economy, lack of knowledge and weak competitiveness of firms compared to large MNCs. Strengthening the cooperation of Slovenia with China is of strategic importance in view of China’s growing role in the global economy. By strengthening economic cooperation with China, Slovenia can reduce its dependence on the EU and strengthen the resilience of its economy.
Keywords: China, history, trade, FDI, policy