Czech Republic aims to be hub for China trade in C.Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic visit to the Czech Republic is expected to set the tone for the two countries' once-complicated relations, as well as to help China project its influence among Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, observers said.

"China has sent a strong signal by choosing the Czech Republic as Xi's only stop in Europe, as it considers the Czech Republic a crucial cooperation partner in Europe and is willing to strengthen mutual cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the '16+1' mechanism," Zhao Junjie, a research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times.

China announced Wednesday that Xi is going to visit the Czech Republic from March 28 to 30 before heading to Washington for the Nuclear Security Summit.

As the first Chinese President to visit the Czech Republic, Xi's trip shows the ever-closer high-level exchanges and increasingly solid political mutual trust between the two nations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The visit will be Xi's maiden visit to a Central and Eastern European country as China's head of state.

The two sides will further strengthen cooperation in the fields of manufacturing, scientific research, aerospace, healthcare, agriculture, energy and tourism during the visit, the Czech News Agency reported.

Amiable gesture

"The visit shows China's willingness to strengthen cooperation with the Czech Republic, as well as response to the country's amicable attitudes toward China," Zhao said.

Although during the 67 years of development, relations and cooperation between the two nations were at times somewhat inhibited, the relationship has greatly improved due to the two countries' efforts, Cui Hongjian, director of the department of EU Studies at the China Institute of International Studies told the Global Times.

The Czech Republic was once perceived as an unfriendly country toward China due to its active attempts to develop relations with Taiwan and the Dalai Lama. 

Since Milos Zeman took office as Czech president in March 2013, he has discarded prejudice and supported pragmatic economic diplomacy, leading the two countries' relations into a new era, Zhao said.

On September 3 last year, Zeman was the only leader from the EU and NATO member countries to attend China's celebration of victory in World War II.

The deepened bilateral relations have led to fruitful achievements in the two countries' economic cooperation, making the Czech Republic the second-biggest trading partner of China in the CEE region, and China the second-biggest trading partner in the world for the Czech Republic. In 2015, two-way trade topped $11 billion.

The two countries will further develop their economic ties during the visit, especially in renewable energy and infrastructure, as China needs the Czech Republic's renewable resources technologies, while the latter needs infrastructure such as high-speed trains, Zhao said.

The Czech Republic is hoping to become the center of services for Chinese financial institutions in the CEE region as well as the hub of air transport between China and the area.

During the visit, Xi will raise again the "16+1" mechanism, or China and CEE cooperation format, on the level of head of state, Xinhua reported.

The 16+1 meeting mechanism, launched in 2012, was designed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote relations between China and CEE countries, experts said.

The Czech Republic is well-positioned to help China boost its relations and cooperation with CEE countries, as its GDP per capita is among the highest in the region, while the country also serves as a strong political power, Zhao said.

Zeman has said he expected Chinese investments worth 45 billion crowns ($1.88 billion) and the signing of 20 agreements during Xi's visit, local media reported.