Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel on Tuesday hailed the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Bilateral relations between China and Slovenia have developed smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties 16 years ago, said Yang.

The frequent high-level exchange of visits between the two countries have injected new momentum for the development of their bilateral ties, he said.

Yang said that China is ready to join hands with Slovenia to enhance dialogues and deepen understanding so that pragmatic cooperation could be realized in the fields of infrastructure, port and transport.

Yang, who arrived in Ljubljana on Monday to attend a meeting with the European Union (EU) troika, also expressed appreciation for Slovenia's efforts to coordinate and promote relations between China and the EU during its EU presidency in the first half of this year.

Rupel said that boosting economic cooperation is in the interests of both countries and Slovenia's participation in Expo 2010 in Shanghai would offer yet another opportunity to enhance such cooperation.

He welcomed the fact that China is promoting cooperation with Slovenia in numerous fields, ranging from infrastructure to maritime affairs, according to the Slovenian Foreign Ministry.

Rupel also accepted Yang's invitation for Slovenia to participate in the Asia-Europe Meeting, which will be held in Beijing in October.

Rupel once again conveyed deepest sympathies to the Chinese people over the recent earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Yang thanked Slovenia for its aid offered after the disaster.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2008)