According to a report on the website of the UK's Financial Times on October 29, Slovenia plans to issue up to 5 billion yuan in panda bonds next year. This is part of a strategic initiative to further open up its economy amid escalating trade tensions and shifts in U.S. and Chinese industrial policies.
Slovenia's Finance Minister Clement Boštjančič recently proposed a plan to issue sovereign bonds denominated in renminbi (RMB) in China. He told a reporter from the Financial Times, "We want to expand our investor base."
On October 9, 2025, in Luxembourg, Slovenia's Finance Minister Clement Boštjančič attended the Eurogroup meeting.
Slovenia is a member of the eurozone. Panda bonds are a more commonly used form of bonds by multinational companies. Issuing panda bonds indicates Slovenia's desire to establish closer ties with Beijing, despite pressure from the United States on Europe to adopt a tougher stance against China.
Boštjančič said, "This could be something the world has never seen in nearly a century. It is particularly challenging for small open economies like ours."
He said that in such an environment, even small EU member states must cultivate direct relationships with major powers like China. He said, "We have increased bilateral meetings with Chinese officials because we can't wait any longer. We must protect our own interests."
The report stated that foreign companies are increasingly issuing panda bonds, attracted by lower interest rates and the desire for a diversified investor base. Some countries, including Portugal, Hungary, and Egypt, have issued panda bonds in recent years, although panda bonds still make up a very small portion of the global sovereign debt market.
The Slovenian finance minister said, "A major issue Europe faces is how to respond and compete in an environment where the competition between China and the United States is so different. Europe has not yet adapted to this situation, and it is an important question that Europe must answer."
Source | Reference News
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