Prague, May 31 (CTK) – Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and four other ministers will pay a working visit to China to intensify Czech-Chinese relations and cooperation in air traffic, health and finances on June 16-20, the Government Office told journalists on Tuesday.
Sobotka will meet Prime Minister Li Keqiang and represent the Czech Republic at the meeting of the 16+1 forum comprised of central, eastern and southeastern European countries and China.
“This government continually works on the improvement in Czech-Chinese relations. We are intensively cooperating in a number of spheres such as banking, new investments, aviation and tourism,” Sobotka said in his press release.
“The 16+1 forum, too, is an important instrument with which to look jointly for a way towards a more efficient use of the latent potential of China and the European region,” he added.
Sobotka will be accompanied by Labour and Social Affairs Minister Michaela Marksova, Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek, Transport Minister Dan Tok and Industry and Trade Minister Jan Mladek.
Sobotka already visited China at the end of last year. He was received by Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, 31 agreements and memorandums were signed, especially in the spheres of investments, banking and healthcare.
Czech-Chinese relations are among the priorities of the foreign policy.
President Milos Zeman considers China a key economic partner.
Xi paid a visit to the Czech Republic in March. During it, the two presidents signed a strategic cooperation agreement and ministers memorandums on understanding in industry, transport, healthcare and education.
The visit was accompanied by some protests against China’s policy in the sphere of human rights and Tibet.
