Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka during the Munich Security Conference, at the request of the Czech side.
Wang said that China and the Czech Republic are linked by a tradition of friendship and recalled that the Czech Republic was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. At the same time, however, he noted that relations between the two countries had gone through a complicated period in recent years, which, in his view, did not correspond to the interests of either side.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries. According to Wang, China appreciates the efforts of the new Czech government to improve relations and is ready to cooperate in returning them to a healthy and stable development. He also expressed his hope that the Czech side would approach China objectively, adhere to the one-China principle and respect the country's fundamental interests. He said the two sides should promote exchanges at various levels and in various fields, strengthen mutual trust and create a basis for pragmatic cooperation.
Petr Macinka said that China is an important global power and the Czech side values the traditional friendship between the two nations. He said the tenth anniversary of the strategic partnership should be an opportunity to open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
He stressed that the Czech Republic firmly adheres to the one-China policy, recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government representing all of China and respects the country's efforts to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the Czech side is interested in improving relations, restoring high-level contacts and developing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.