On May 20, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus in Prague, capital of Czech Republic.
Wen praised the efforts made by Klaus for the success of the 11th China-EU Summit and spoke highly of his contribution to bilateral relations.
Wen said the Czech Republic, together with other Central and Eastern European countries, is among the first nations that established diplomatic relations with China, and their bilateral relations have enjoyed a sound foundation. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Czech Republic. Wen said that in the past 60 years, friendship and cooperation have always been the main stream of bilateral ties despite profound changes in both countries and in the world at large. He said that in recent years, China and the Czech Republic have maintained high-level contacts, with bilateral economic and trade cooperation deepened and social and cultural exchanges expanded. Wen said China attaches great importance to its relations with the Czech Republic, cherishes bilateral traditional friendship and is willing to take the 60th anniversary as an opportunity to enhance mutual political trust, expand trade and mutual investment, strengthen cooperation in science, technology and environmental protection, promote non-governmental exchanges, and better coordinate in international affairs, in a bid to push bilateral ties to a new level.
Klaus, who has visited China three times, said he was very impressed every time he visited China. He hailed the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, saying that the Czech side wishes prosperity to China and well-being to its people. The Czech Republic considers China an important partner and is willing to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with China in various fields, Klaus said. He expressed hopes that more Czech companies would invest in China.
On the same day, the Chinese premier also met with Czech interim Prime Minister Jan Fisher. Wen said it is particularly important for China and the Czech Republic to work together amid the global financial crisis. The Chinese government is willing to expand trade with the Czech Republic, and increase mutual investment and take concrete actions to promote trade balance, said the premier. China welcomes the efforts by Czech enterprises to further explore the Chinese market, Wen said, adding that the two sides can also try to jointly explore third-party markets. Both sides should create a sound environment for investment and cooperation between enterprises, Wen said. China-Czech cooperation has huge potential, said the premier, expressing belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral ties will surely be pushed to a new stage.
Fisher said the Czech Republic considers the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as a new milestone and would enhance political dialogue with China and reinforce cooperation in such sectors as trade, investment, tourism and culture, as well as between businesses. He also called for joint efforts with China to tackle the international financial crisis and push bilateral ties to a new high in the new situation.
