Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman sign a joint statement on lifting the two countries' ties to a strategic partnership after their talks in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Chinese President Xi Jinping's 49-hour state visit from Monday to Wednesday to the Czech Republic saw the two countries ink a host of agreements ranging from lifting of bilateral ties to advancing economic and technology cooperation.[Special coverage]
The historic visit by Xi, the first by a head of state from China to the Czech Republic in 67 years, began with a "no necktie" meeting at the Czech president's summer residence and concluded with a beer-toasting farewell at a picturesque medieval library overlooking Prague.
AGREEMENT ON UPGRADE OF TIES
One of the most significant achievements for Xi's visit to the Czech Republic is that the Czech Republic and China have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, a remarkable step that sets up a "clear political direction" to the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.
During his meeting with Zeman, the Chinese president said that the two countries have seen closer high-level engagements, more practical cooperation, and more frequent exchanges between the peoples in recent years, ushering their relationship into "a period of growth that is unprecedented in terms of both speed and results."
Besides the uplifted bilateral relations, the two sides also agreed on enhancing cooperation on fields such as production capacity, finance, nuclear energy, e-commerce, communication and environment protection.
Moreover, the Chinese president's visit is not all about politics, as interesting and heart-warming sidelights also played a big part.
The Chinese president, who is an enthusiastic sport fan, met with budding football players and ice-hockey players from both countries. He, in company with Zeman, watched the Czech Boys Choir performing a masterpiece of Bedrich Smetana, commonly known as the father of Czech music.
SAPLING FOR FRIENDSHIP
Another highlighted moment of the three-day visit is when Xi and Zeman joined hands to plant a ginkgo sapling, which was brought from China as a gift for the Czech Republic, at Lany Chateau, the official summer residence for the Czech president outside Prague.
Xi said that ginkgo, a symbol of long-lasting friendship in Chinese culture, signifies the friendly ties between the two countries.
During Zeman's visit to China in 2014, the Czech president presented Xi with an apple tree sapling, which is symbolic of cooperation in his country.
The exchange of meaningful gifts shed light on the bond between Xi and Zeman, who was warmly welcomed by the Chinese president in Beijing when he attended China's V-Day Parade on September 13, 2015.
This time when Zeman played the host, he welcomed Xi with all due courtesy. The Czech side sent two fighter jets to escort when Xi's plane entered Czech airspace on Monday, and Zeman hosted a grand welcoming ceremony at the renowned Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency.
During the ceremony, the officer for guards of honor spoke in Chinese to invite Xi for inspection, and Xi, in return, spoke in Czech to thank the guards of honor after he finished the inspection.
