Xi aims to give Czech ties a boost

President Xi jinping meets Czech President Milos Zeman in Beijing on Sept 4, 2015. Yao Dawei / Xinhua

Vaclav Klaus, a former president of the Czech Republic, said Xi's visit carries "historic meaning" and shows how seriously the two countries want to develop their relationship.

"Now it is up to us to keep closer ties with China," he said.

In an article published on its website early this month, Radio Prague said the Czech Republic is "looking to finally get a bigger slice of the Chinese investment cake after long lagging behind neighbors such as Poland and Hungary".

Ma Keqing, the Chinese ambassador to the Czech Republic, said Xi's visit has attracted a great deal of attention in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe.

The ambassador said China is willing to deepen financial cooperation, encourage the use of both nations' currencies in trade and investment, and hold talks on the feasibility of setting up a renminbi settlement mechanism in Prague.

China is the Czech Republic's second-biggest trading partner, next only to the European Union, while the Czech Republic is China's second-biggest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. The trade volume topped $11 billion last year.

In November, China and the Czech Republic signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly building the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. It was the first such document signed between China and a Central European country.

Contact the writer at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn