The officials moreover confirmed their countries' support for EU policies encouraging growth and creating jobs, Cerar's office said in a press release on Friday.

Cerar and Fico also discussed international issues, focussing on Ukraine and relations with Russia. They shared a view that it is crucial for EU member states to have a unified approach to Russia.

The pair broached Slovenia's cooperation with the Visegrad group of countries, urging for full use of the potential offered by the Central European area, according to Cerar's office.

Economic cooperation, foremost in the fields infrastructure, transport and energy is at the forefront of efforts to enhance cooperation with the Visegrad group, which comprises Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

Slovenia and the four countries had an annual volume of trade of about EUR 4.5 billion last year, of which EUR 720 million with Slovakia, data from Slovenia's SPIRIT agency shows.

Slovenia and the group are linked by a key route in the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), connecting Baltic and North Adriatic ports via Central Europe. The Slovenian section runs between Koper, Ljubljana and Maribor with the port of Koper a vital hub for the whole Central and Eastern Europe.