China, Czech Republic set example for broader region to advance Belt and Road Initiative
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| Chinese President Xi Jinping (L, front) and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman (R, front) attend the China-Czech Economic Roundtable in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 30, 2016. [Liu Weibing/Xinhua] |
China and the Czech Republic, by upgrading their relations during a historic visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, has set an example for countries in the broader region to work with China to advance the Belt and Road Initiative.
Xi visited the Czech Republic from March 28 to March 30 in search of a partner to advance the Belt and Road Initiative and a pivot point to boost cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Europe as a whole.
The Czech Republic is known in China for its culture and bilateral cooperation has gained momentum in recent years. Some experts have described a process of the two countries "rediscovering each other as important cooperation partners."
The two countries elevated their relations to strategic partnership and signed a host of cooperation agreements as their presidents had good interactions, formal and informal.
Complementary economies
Xi's visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to the Czech Republic in 67 years, is seen as an occasion for setting a clear political direction for the bilateral relations. It began with an informal meeting at the Czech president's summer residence and concluded with a beer-toasting farewell at a picturesque medieval library. They also planted a ginkgo together as a symbol of lasting friendship.
"A good personal rapport between leaders can have a positive impact on ties between nations," said Cui Hongjian, a senior research fellow on European studies at the China Institute of International Studies.
During Xi's visit, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in fields such as production capacity, finance, nuclear energy, e-commerce, telecommunications and environmental protection.
The two economies are complementary. A country of over 10 million people, the Czech Republic has an edge in many industries. Leaders said the two countries should also try to forge synergy between the "Made in China 2025" plan and the "Czech Industry 4.0."
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