Chinese president to visit Czech, attend nuclear security summit in US

BEIJING -- China will work with the international community to ensure the success of the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit, Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said Thursday.

Li made the remarks at a press briefing on President Xi Jinping's attendance at the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, which will be held in Washington, the United States, from March 31 to April 1.

During the summit, Xi will deliver a keynote speech on China's new measures and new achievements in nuclear security, and raise practical proposals on strengthening global nuclear security, said Li.

President Xi's participation demonstrates China's positive and constructive attitude to working together with other countries to build an international nuclear security system and enhance nuclear global governance, the official said.

China hopes that the summit will continuously step up the international consensus on nuclear security to effectively handle new circumstances and new challenges, and promote capacity building for various countries to implement nuclear security obligations and political commitments, he said.

China also hopes the summit will boost international cooperation on nuclear security and create a shared culture of nuclear security, Li added.

He said China will work with parties concerned to make contributions to the construction of a fair, cooperative and win-win international nuclear security system and improve the levels of global nuclear security.

President Xi will meet with his US counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the summit, Li said, noting it will be the first meeting between the two heads of state this year.

He said the president will also meet with other state leaders on the sidelines of the summit to exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

Prior to the summit, Xi will make a state visit to the Czech Republic from March 28 to 30 at the invitation of Czech President Milos Zeman, said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing.

Xi's visit to the Czech Republic will be the first state visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties, his first visit to Central and Eastern Europe, and the first trip to Europe this year. It signals a major diplomatic move toward Europe, Liu said.

During his time in the Czech Republic, Xi will hold talks with Zeman and meet with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Senate chairman Milan Stech, Chamber of Deputies chairman Jan Hamacek and Prague Mayor Adriana Krnacova, said Liu.

The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations, the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, China-Europe relations and other international and regional issues of common concern, said Liu.

Liu said the two sides will also sign a number of cooperative agreements covering economy and trade, infrastructure, finance, health care, aviation, science and technology, and culture.

Xi's visit to Czech will set the wheels in motion for the future development of bilateral ties, said Liu.

China believes that this visit will push forward all-round mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, elevate bilateral ties, and promote China-CEE cooperation as well as China-Europe ties, he said.