Brussels, June 10 (CTK special correspondent) – The Czech Republic could make use of the current meeting between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States(CELAC) to strengthen its economic cooperation with the CELAC countries, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told CTK yesterday.
The two-day summit started in Brussels yesterday. Sobotka met Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos tonight. They mainly discussed boosting economic cooperation.
Sobotka said in its talks with Columbia and Panama, the Czech delegation wants to discuss cooperation in defence industry and tourism.
Sobotka said Czech firms have a great chance to succeed in the countries with which the Czech Republic has had “long-standing traditional relations.”
He said in Latin America, the Czech Republic is mainly interested in Colombia whose president Santos he met yesterday.
Sobotkaa said bilateral relations should be promoted by the opening of a new Czech embassy in Bogota and Colombia’s in Prague.
In the Caribbean, the Czech Republic in cooperation with other EU countries could seek relations with Cuba, Sobotka said and added that his country expects the current easing of relations between Havana and Washington to bring liberalisation in Cuba and its transition to democracy.
However, Prague will place emphasis on human rights observance in establishing closer relations with Cuba, Sobotka said.
The EU-CELAC summit is participated in by more than 60 delegations, including 42 heads of state and government.
The EU is the biggest foreign investor in the 33 CELAC states and their second largest trade partner.
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