Foreign Ministry State Secretary Igor Senčar said at the meeting, which features representatives of institutes, governments and business from 17 countries in a 16+1 format, that Slovenia had positive experience with China when it comes to foreign direct investment.

China has for instance made a successful investment in the production of electric buses in Maribor, while cooperation between Slovenian and Chinese high-tech companies is also producing results.

"Initiatives from the private sector should be particularly encouraged, since they usually have better chances of succeeding," added Senčar, who also pointed to tourism as an opportunity for cooperation in the future.

Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Chao stressed China had backed the development of countries in Central and Eastern Europe with investments. He pointed to investments in European infrastructure in the field of energy and transport.

Trade between China and the region amounted to US$ 28.8bn in the first half of 2014, while the projection for the end of the year is US$ 60bn, Wang announced. Slovenian-Chinese trade reached US$ 2.1bn last year.

Among the most important future project China wishes to participate in, Wang singled out the Budapest-Belgrade motorway.

Slovenian companies are making forays into China with technological knowledge among other things, while China is helping with investments in Slovenia, said Wang, who is noticing an increase in cooperation and trust between China and the EU

Former Slovenian President Danilo Türk was also among the opening speakers at the meeting and emphasised the needs in this part of Europe related to infrastructure - roads and railways. He also sees many chances for investment cooperation in manufacturing.

Former Chinese Ambassador to Germany Mei Zhaorong, who feels Slovenian companies mostly have opportunities in the China's eastern provinces, moreover highlighted Chinese know-how in the field of high-speed rail and nuclear power.