Vítek Prokop, a political scientist, columnist and member of the STAČILO! movement, said that from the European perspective he considers cooperation with China to be crucial for the fulfilment of Europe's strategic autonomy. However, in his view, such autonomy will remain limited if European states continue to be bound by military and political dependence on the United States. „The only real way for Europe to achieve some kind of strategic autonomy is through cooperation with China,“ He said.
In his speech he criticized the current Czech foreign policy and described it as unsovereign. He also said that he believes that US policy is confrontational towards China and that its actions also affect countries that are Beijing's trading partners. Nevertheless, he said he was encouraged by the economic figures presented at the meeting. „The industry knows where the real national interests are,“ he said.
Prokop also recalled his visit to China last year, where he said he saw with his own eyes the extent of progress there. „When I see the progress that the People's Republic of China has made, I confess that I am a little envious,“ He said. He also mentioned a visit to a museum where he was intrigued by a 1957 photograph of the celebration of China's first automobile, which illustrated the country's transformation over time.
He concluded by calling for more inspiration from the Chinese model of development. „To take more inspiration from China, to not be afraid of it,“ he said. According to him, the Czech Republic could have adopted a similar development direction earlier and should now return to this debate.
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