PEKING - The Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura, spent five days in China last week. He traveled to Shanghai, Changzhou, and Beijing, accompanied by a business delegation of over twenty people.
He visited the Geely automobile factory, the Jutai Technology company, met with Wang Chu-ning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in Beijing, and attended a Czech-Chinese conference on economic cooperation. At the conference, he made a statement that concisely expressed the essence of his mission: "I came to create new opportunities for businesses and institutions in both countries."
Czech-Chinese relations have experienced a significant shift over the past ten years. In 2016, strategic cooperation was established, but in the following years, relations cooled considerably, almost to the point of freezing. However, this time in Beijing, he clearly declared: The Czech Republic adheres to the "one China" policy and rejects any form of "Taiwan independence."
This is a pragmatic signal. The new Czech government is relying on pragmatic diplomacy, and Okamura, as Speaker of the Chamber, brought with him a concrete agenda: restoring direct flights, supporting visa-free travel for Czech citizens traveling to China, and an exhibition of the Terracotta Army in Prague. All these are issues that can be pursued without major political narratives.
One Chinese academic described this interaction as "contact through less sensitive topics." In professional terms – but in practice, it means: not addressing issues where there is no consensus, and first doing what is possible. Okamura probably doesn't stand out too much on the streets of Chinese cities. He has Japanese roots and is often considered Asian. Nevertheless, he represents the parliament of a European state.
His very arrival is a gesture: after several years of interruption, someone was willing to take the first step. This visit did not result in any groundbreaking trade agreements. Its significance lies not in the numbers, but in the fact that it succeeded in reconnecting severed ties. Even if it's just a thin thread, it still offers hope for further connections.
Marie Liu
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