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Interview: Xi's Czech visit to open new chapter of China-EU ties -- Chinese ambassador

Xinhua, March 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Czech Republic will promote bilateral relations to a new high and open a new chapter of the ties between China and the European Union (EU), said Yang Yanyi, head of the Chinese mission to the 28-nation bloc.

Xi's visit to the Czech Republic from Monday to Wednesday will be the first state visit by a Chinese president to the country in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties, his first visit to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as head of state, and his first trip to Europe this year, Yang told Xinhua in a recent interview.

China is committed to cementing traditional friendship with the Czech Republic and the bilateral ties have entered a new phase which has seen most rapid development and scored most fruitful results in history, she said.

"China is willing to work with the Czech Republic to strengthen high-level exchanges and all-level dialogue, consolidate bilateral political mutual trust, and maximize synergy between their respective development plans," she said.

Yang said the two countries can explore ways to enhance cooperation in manufacturing, nuclear power, finance, aviation, nano-technology, high-speed railway, and tourism.

She spoke highly of the role of the Czech Republic in actively promoting cooperation between China and the CEE region.

All the 16 CEE countries are located along the routes charted by the Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by Xi in 2013 with the aim of reviving ancient trade routes to link China with over 60 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Last November, China and the Czech Republic signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative at the fourth leaders' meeting of China and the CEE countries in Suzhou, China. It was the first MoU sealed by China and a CEE country concerning the initiative.

Yang said China is ready to take the opportunity of the MoU to promote cooperation with the CEE region and contribute to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In addition, China values Europe's role and function, supports the European integration process, and is optimistic about the prospects for the development of Europe, the ambassador said.

China is ready to work with all EU member states to reinforce mutual understanding and trust and forge a China-EU partnership featuring peace, growth, reform and civilization, she said.

China and the EU can strengthen coordination and cooperation in fields such as international trade and investment, finance, environment, climate change, the Internet and the fight against terrorism, and try to hammer out fair, reasonable and effective rules in the areas mentioned above, Yang said.

"In the spirit of mutual respect and equality, China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on anti-terrorism with the EU, so as to contribute to addressing both the symptoms and root causes of the issue," said Yang, warning against double standards in the fight against terrorism. Endi