China, Czech Republic sign strategic cooperation deals

World Today

President Xi Jinping signed a strategic agreement with his Czech Republic counterpart during a three day visit to the country.

CCTV America’s Daniel Ryntjes reports.

Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has commited considerable political capital on growing closer to China.

“I would like the Czech Republic to become an entry gate for the People’s Republic of China to the European Union,” President Zeman said during the state dinner for Xi.

The two leaders signed a strategic partnership agreement and promised to deepen cooperation in several areas including infrastructure and construction.

“Both parties have set up a cooperation between both countries for the forthcoming years,” President Xi said. President Xi added the two countries will also launch cooperative initiatives in the field of nuclear energy.

Transportation and trade infrastructure is of particular strategic importance to China, as the Czech Republic is part of the route known as the Belt and Road initiative, a kind of modern Silk Road linking central Asia to the Middle East and Europe.

As a symbol of these new commitments, President Xi reciprocated the gift of an apple tree to China two years ago by President Zeman, planting a medicinal Ginkgo Biloba tree in Prague.


China, Czech Republic sign strategic partnership agreement

China and the Czech Republic signed several agreements to enhance diplomatic and economic ties as President Xi Jinping wrapped up day two of his state visit to Prague.

CCTV’s Jiang Shaoyi reports.

Besides an agreement on a strategic partnership, the two presidents also signed a series of cooperation deals.

The two-way trade topped $21 billion in 2015.

On Tuesday, Xi became the first foreign head of state to be welcomed at the Czech Presidential residence, the Lany Chateau.


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CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar interviewed Jean-Pierre Lehmann, an emeritus professor of International political economy at the International Institute for Management Development about the China–Czech cooperation.


Public affairs expert Fred Teng on Xi’sCzech Republic visit 

CCTV America’s Mike Walter interviewed Fred Teng, the president at America China Public Affairs Institute about President Xi’s visit to Czech Republic.