Zuzana Stichova, reporter with the Czech news outlet Blesk News, said that the Xi-Zeman meeting at Lany Chateau on Monday night is the first time that Zeman has received a foreign head of state at the presidential summer residence, and that the informal setting suggests the two leaders are on very good terms.
KEY TO PRAGUE
Another symbolic moment during Xi's visit came on Tuesday afternoon when the Chinese president was presented with a key to the city by Prague Mayor Adriana Krnacova at a ceremony in the Liechtenstein Palace.
Xi visited the Central and Eastern European (CEE) country in search of a partner to build the Belt and Road Initiative and a pivot point for fast-track cooperation with both the European Union and the CEE region. In both cases, he met his expectations, finding the key to accomplish the two tasks.
During the talks with Zeman, Xi reaffirmed China's long-standing support for Europe's integration, saying China is happy to see a prosperous, united and stable EU, and stands ready to work with the EU members and other European countries for world peace and development.
Zeman, referring to China as "a major economic partner" of the EU, said that 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.
Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative during his visit, Xi said that the Czech Republic, an important country along the Silk Road Economic Belt, together with China, is faced with enormous development opportunity.
The call was echoed by both Zeman and Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, and the two countries agreed to strengthen the synergy of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Czech development strategies, and jointly draw up a cooperation plan between the two countries.
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
Business deals are, as always, one of the most eye-catching elements in Chinese leaders' visits to foreign countries.
At a business roundtable, Xi and Zeman witnessed a host of business deals signed between Chinese and Czech companies on areas ranging from automobile, finance, energy, aviation and infrastructure development.
Chen Qiutu, president of China CEFC Energy Company Limited, said that companies from both sides are making strides to push forward cooperation in various sectors, and that the business community has become an integral part in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.
Chen said that the joint efforts by the two heads of state have paved the way to a business boom between the Czech Republic and China.
For many years in a row, China has been the Czech Republic's largest trading partner outside the EU and the Czech Republic China's second largest trading partner in the CEE. In 2015, bilateral trade topped 11 billion U.S. dollars.
"We are very proud of our economic and trade achievements with China," Zeman said.
After concluding the state visit, Xi left Prague on Wednesday for the United States to attend the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, which is to be held in Washington D.C. from March 31 to April 1.
