Xi Jinping Holds Video Meeting with Czech President Miloš Zeman

On the afternoon of January 9, 2023, President Xi Jinping held a video meeting with Czech President Miloš Zeman.

Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 10 years, he and President Zeman have met and talked many times, exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations and governance experience, and upgraded the China-Czech relationship to a strategic partnership. The two sides have jointly promoted bilateral economic and trade relations and personnel exchanges. Czech exports to China have nearly tripled, and in 2019, the number of Chinese tourists to the Czech Republic increased 250 percent from 2013. China values the development of China-Czech relations, regards the Czech Republic as an important strategic partner, and is ready to work with the Czech side for the steady growth of bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed that China is promoting the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, and will continue to pursue high-level opening up, which will surely provide new opportunities for all countries, including the Czech Republic. The two sides should be firm in their respect for each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen multi-level and high-quality exchanges and communication, tap deep into the potential of each other’s complementarity, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China will roll out more practical measures to promote cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). China's policy on Europe remains stable. Xi Jinping expressed his hope that the Czech side will continue to actively promote China-CEEC cooperation and the sustained and sound development of China-Europe relations.

Zeman said that he fully agrees with President Xi Jinping's remarks on Czech-China relations and cherishes his friendship with President Xi Jinping. The Czech side is ready to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to strengthen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade and investment, overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, resume personnel exchanges, and bring great vitality to Czech-China relations. The Czech side is ready to play an active role in promoting the sound development of Europe-China relations.

Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at the event.