Beijing, Sept 2 (CTK) – Czech President Milos Zeman yesterday arrived in China where he will attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Asia.
On Thursday, Zeman will watch a grandiose military parade along with another 30 statesmen from across the world in the centre of Beijing.
During his five-day visit to China, Zeman is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zeman is the only Western head of state to attend the ceremony.
The representatives of the USA, EU and other Western countries either refused to come or were not invited.
They are afraid that the show of Beijing’ military power could send a bad signal to Japan and other countries in the region who criticise the territorial expansion of China.
In addition, the military parade will take place in Tiananmen Square, which has become a symbol of human rights violation after hundreds of protesting Chinese students were massacred there in 1989.
Zeman has said he considers his participation in the ceremony a sign of respect for the 17 million inhabitants of China who died when fighting Japan along with the Allies during World War Two.
Like in his previous visit to China last October, Zeman wants to focus on the two countries’ economic collaboration. Czech businesspeople will be in the delegation.
Zeman said a number of major, so far unspecified agreements would be signed in China.
Zeman will start his programme yesterday by meeting the Czech ambassador to Beijing with whom he will discuss the opening of the Czech general consulate in Chengdu, the fifth biggest city in China.
He will also meet representatives of the agencies CzechTrade, CzechInvest and CzechTourism and lay flowers at the grave of Czech Jesuit missionary Karel Slavicek (1678-1735).
The scholar, mathematician and astronomer spent almost 20 years in China and is considered the first Czech sinologist.
Slavicek is credited with having drawn up the first plan of Beijing.
At the close of the day, Zeman is scheduled to attend a dinner given by Xi Jinping for the heads of state.
