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1st LD: China, Czech Republic set up strategic partnership

Xinhua, March 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

China and the Czech Republic on Tuesday agreed to elevate their ties to a strategic partnership in the hope of seeking more common interests and conducting enhanced cooperation.

The two sides reached the agreement during Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the European country.

The upgrade of bilateral relations came as the result of the friendly and fruitful talk between Xi and his Czech counterpart, Milos Zeman, which took place at the Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech President's Office.

During their talk, both presidents spoke highly of the current bilateral relations and reached broad consensus after in-depth discussion on bilateral ties, the relations between China and the European Union (EU) as well as the cooperation between China and the countries in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Xi pointed out that the relationship between China and the Czech Republic is booming with frequent high-level official interactions and flourishing economic cooperation between the two countries.

China stands ready to work with the Czech Republic to cherish the sound yet hard-won bilateral relations, strengthen mutual political trust and promote pragmatic cooperation.

Zeman, referring to China as "a major economic partner" of the EU, said his country is committed to becoming a gateway for China to the EU and a hub of transportation, logistics and finance in China-EU trade by joining hands with China in deepening mutual trust and playing a conducive role in pushing China-CEE cooperation forward.

The two countries issued a joint statement on lifting their ties to a strategic partnership after the talks, in which the two sides agreed to continue making close high-level contacts as the exemplary for over-all relations, enhancing friendly cooperation between ministries, legislative bodies and local governments.

The two sides also decided to establish an intergovernmental strategic dialogue mechanism to map out the future development of the bilateral ties.

Prior to the talk, Zeman held a grand welcoming ceremony for the Chinese leader with a 21-gun salute at the Prague Castle.

Xi arrived in Prague on Monday for a three-day state visit to the European country. It is the first state visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties. It is also Xi's maiden visit to the CEE region since he assumed presidency in 2013 and his first trip to Europe this year. Endi