China, Czech Republic vow to strengthen relations

President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Czech President Milos Zeman in Beijing, Sept 4, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping said Friday that China and the Czech Republic should continue to consolidate the political basis for bilateral relations and boost cooperation in various fields.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Czech President Milos Zeman, who attended commemorations in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

He said Zeman's attendance at the commemorations showed the spirit of respecting historical facts, adding that China, as the main Eastern theater of the war, made tremendous contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

The president also praised the Czech people's unyielding heroism on European battlegrounds during the war.

China-Czech relations have maintained rapid development and the two should strengthen high-level exchanges and dialogue at different levels, he said.

He called on the two countries to consolidate the economic basis for their cooperation, combine development strategies, and conduct cooperation in such areas as manufacturing, nuclear power and infrastructure.

China and the Czech Republic should also inject more vitality into their people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Xi said.

Zeman said his country attaches importance to its relations with China and is willing to keep boosting exchanges and cooperation in finance, aviation, investment and other fields.

The Czech Republic will also actively take part in cooperation projects within the framework of the China-proposed "Belt and Road" initiative, he said.