What they said

When President Xi decided to visit, we found that China is also very serious in recognizing the role of the Czech Republic in the China-EU relationship framework. We are happy that President Xi not only visits the UK, France and Germany but the Czech Republic as well.

Vaclav Klaus, former Czech president

President Xi is a visionary, a serious and down-to-earth global politician, who knows very well what Chinese people need most. He has made great efforts in fighting corruption and keeping the Chinese economy on track, which has impressed me.

Jiri Paroubek, former Czech prime minister

President Zeman has visited China, is a great supporter and promoter of Czech-China relations and strongly backs the Belt and Road Initiative. The Czech government and businesses have also shown strong support for this initiative proposed by President Xi.

Jan Kohout, former foreign minister and an adviser to Czech President Milos Zeman on Chinese affairs

Both countries are working toward boosting the bilateral relationship to a strategic level while identifying each other's cooperation priorities. China and the Czech Republic aim to deliver an action plan for the Belt and Road Initiative, after signing a memorandum of understanding last year.

Jaroslav Tvrdik, special affairs adviser to the Czech leadership and a former defense minister

China is willing to deepen financial cooperation-using both nations' currencies for trade and investment-and to discuss the feasibility of setting up a renminbi settlement mechanism in Prague.... A recent poll in the Czech Republic found that more than 70 percent of Czechs support further developing the bilateral relationship.

Ma Keqing, China's ambassador to the Czech Republic

(China Daily 03/28/2016 page1)