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Erjavec said the meeting marked a "new stage in relations between Ljubljana and Klagenfurt", highlighting the "substantially better atmosphere" in Carinthia for the Slovenian minority since the instalment of the new provincial government.

Good cooperation between Ljubljana and Vienna goes through Klagenfurt, he added.

Kaiser explained that Ljubljana had been chosen intentionally for his first official visit abroad. The governor said he was happy to find friends in Slovenia who want to develop relations further.

The Contact Committee, an institutional bilateral body that was brought to life in 1994 but was later discontinued, is to define the common topics and projects of importance for both sides, according to Erjavec.

The minister underlined the economy, transport, infrastructure, tourism, culture and education as the most important fields.

The governor said that the committee would also be given new structure and would include representatives of the Austrian state, like state secretaries and members of both houses of Austrian parliament.

The governor added that it were good to have the committee address some of the more "critical" issues, listing last year's flood of the Drava river that hit Slovenia after a flood wave spread from Austria following the opening of dams and Slovenia's nuclear power plant in Krško.

Kaiser moreover touched on the sale of the Austrian bank network of Hypo Alpe Adria Group, saying the move will not affect the group's Slovenian branch. The Austrian group, which is 100% government-owned, sold the network of bank offices to Indian Anadi Financial Holding for EUR 65.5m.

After his meeting with Erjavec, Kaiser met Slovenia's President Borut Pahor and Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek, as well as Minister for Slovenians Abroad Tina Komel.

The prime minister pointed to the importance of boosting economic ties and investments. She also welcomed the setting up of the Forum for Dialogue, which will serve as a framework to address and resolve minority-related issues, a press release from Bratušek's office said.

The Forum for Dialogue was established in February to bring together provincial authorities and minority representatives.

The governor and the PM also discussed possibilities for more concrete cooperation among neighbouring regions in Austria, Italy and Slovenia, which could apply for EU funds with joint projects in education and culture.

The meeting between Pahor and Kaiser focused above all on bilateral relations between Slovenia and Carinthia and on potential advantages of the area in terms of economy, politics and culture, the president's office said on its web site. They also talked about the Slovenian minority living in Carinthia.