PRAGUE, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek met his Saudi counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir, here on Friday to discuss the situation in the Middle East and trade cooperation, the Czech Foreign Ministry said.

"We discussed how to ensure security and stability in Iraq, where Czech soldiers and policemen operate. We must help calm the situation and open the way to negotiations with Iran," Petricek said.

He also said that "We want to strengthen economic relations between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We also see great potential for cooperation in science and research, innovation and new technologies."

The ministry noted that Saudi Arabia is the third most important trading partner for the Czech Republic in the Middle East after Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Trade between the two countries amounts to between 11 billion Czech crowns and 14 billion Czech crowns annually (500 million to 600 million U.S. dollars). Enditem

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