China, Czech Republic agree to promote ties
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-09 09:26

PRAGUE -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Czech counterpart, Jiri Paroubek, agreed Thursday to deepen dialogue and promote contacts at different levels so that bilateral relations can be further strengthened.

They agreed that relations should be promoted within the framework of the China-European Union (EU) comprehensive strategic partnership and on the basis of a 1999 Sino-Czech joint communique. The Czech Republic is an EU member.

Sino-Czech relations have a good momentum of development as political contacts are increasing, economic and trade relations are becoming closer, and exchanges in culture, education and science and technology are expanding, said Wen in talks with Paroubek.

The Czech Republic has a "one-China" policy, and China is happy with the overall relations with the Czech Republic, said Wen.

To develop cooperation is in line with the common aspirations of the two peoples and is in the fundamental interests of both countries, Wen told Paroubek.

China attaches importance to relations with the Czech Republic and is willing to work with the Czech side to push bilateral relations to a new level, he said.

He proposed that both sides should enhance political dialogue and contacts in order to deepen mutual understanding and trust so that bilateral relations can be handled properly.

The Chinese premier also proposed promoting economic and trade cooperation both in terms of scale and grade. The two countries should make use of their own advantages and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in machinery and electronics, communications, mutual investment and know-how transfers.

The two countries should also expand cooperation in people-related areas by encouraging exchanges and contacts of the two peoples. The two governments should create favorable conditions for them, he said.

Paroubek said relations between the two countries have made strides in recent years and they are at their best today. He said he appreciated and supported Wen's proposals for future development of ties.

Cooperation between the Czech Republic and China has a great potential, he said. Paroubek expressed the hope that the two countries can deepen political dialogue and promote cooperation in finance, investment, machinery and environment protection.

He agreed that both sides should facilitate mutual investment and continue cultural and tourism cooperation so as to promote contacts between the two peoples.

Paroubek reiterated that his government will stick to a "one-China" policy.

The two leaders also exchanged views on relations between China and the EU and agreed to enhance dialogue and coordination in international affairs.

After the talks, the two leaders signed a joint declaration and witnessed the signing of more than a dozen cooperation agreements between the two countries.

Wen is on a five-nation Eurasia trip, which has taken him to France and Slovakia. He travels on to Portugal and Malaysia after the Czech Republic.

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