Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Czech President Milos Zeman at the Lany presidential chateau in central Bohemia, Czech Republic, March 28, 2016. Xi started a three-day state visit to the Czech Republic from Monday, the first state visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties. (Photo: Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman had an in-depth discussion after taking a stroll in the garden of the Czech president's summer residence on Monday, the first day of Xi's three-day state visit to the Czech Republic..[Special coverage]
During their two-hour meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and how Prague can help strengthen Beijing's relations with both the European Union and the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region.
UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH
The meeting took place in Lany Chateau, the official summer residence of the Czech president just outside Prague. Zeman extended his warm welcome to Xi by greeting the Chinese leader at the door.
During the in-depth discussion on China-Czech ties and China-Europe relations, Xi said that friendship and cooperation has always been the dominant theme between Beijing and Prague since the establishment of their diplomatic relations more than six decades ago, despite the changing circumstances in the international arena and the ups and downs the two countries have gone through.
Xi stressed that the two countries have seen closer high-level engagements, more practical cooperation, and colorful people-to-people exchanges in recent years, ushering their relationship into a period of growth that is unprecedented in terms of both speed and results.
Mentioning an inter-governmental memorandum of understanding on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries signed in 2015 as a sound foundation to envision a brighter future, Xi said the two countries have a responsibility to renew their long-standing friendship.
Zeman said the Czech Republic attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is willing to prioritize the development of the Czech-China relations and cooperation.
