Suzhou, China, Nov 24 (CTK special correspondent) – Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka discussed cooperation in health care and of regions and Czech contribution to the European-Chinese 16+1 group at a meeting of 16 prime ministers from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe and of China yesterday.
Sobotka said this June, the Czech Republic had staged a meeting of the health ministers of the 16+1 group.
“When the group was being formed, there was a certain scepticism,” Sobotka said.
“Three years later, it has turned out that the group is viable and there are even more countries that would like to join it, too,” he added.
“This is giving the individual 16 countries the chances to seek specific projects and forms of cooperation with China,” Sobotka said.
“This is a project that has certainly given much to the Czech Republic,” he added.
“We are among the active countries. We try to initiate some new forms of cooperation. This year, we managed to stage the first summit of health ministers in Prague,” Sobotka said.
“Our regional governors are also very active in China,” he added.
On Friday, Czech Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek will sign a cooperation agreement with his Chinese counterpart.
The Czech Republic hopes other countries will sign similar agreements with Beijing.
Sobotka also spoke about the Czech Republic’s joining the One Belt, One Road project designed to encourage European-Chinese trade.
He specifically mentioned the ties in aviation, when it comes to the aircraft, aviation and radar systems.
Sobotka is now on a one-week visit to China.
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