Czech Republic should forge closer ties with China, says former president Klaus

Former president of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus said Xi's visit is "of historic significance." It shows that both sides are serious about developing strategic relationship.

"This visit is significant for us and also China should feel it is in its strategic interests in developing such high-profile relations with a European country like the Czech Republic," said Claus during an interview with China Daily prior to Xi's visit.

Vaclav Klaus, former Czech president

He was president of the Czech Republic during 2003-13 and acted as prime minister for a long time. He set up a research institute in suburban Prague on global affairs after his retirement.

Klaus said he has paid visits to China several times and it is logical for his country to start engaging China.

In 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia had split. Klaus said it is natural that the Czech Republic should develop sound relationship with neighbors first and so it has been inward looking for quite a long time.

And trade with European countries amounts to nearly 80 percent of its total volume right now.

"Xi's visit is logical development of the situation. I myself have good relationship with China," said Klaus.

"But we used to be more inward looking, concentrated in Europe, on our tasks, on domestic agenda after the Czech Republic was set up in 1993 during the dramatic years of political and social systems changes."

He said the Czech Republic was busy setting good relations with neighboring countries first.

"Now it is for us to keep closer ties with China as well," he said.

Klaus said the Czech Republic takes Xi's visit seriously.

"And when President Xi decided to visit, we found that China is also very serious in recognizing the role of the Czech Republic in Sino-EU relationship framework," Klaus said.

"We are happy that President Xi does not only visit UK, France, Germany but the Czech Republic as well; and finally, he arrives to the heart of Europe, geographically."

Klaus said countries in Central and Eastern Europe used to have similar political systems and it is relatively easy for these countries to better understand China, compared with other countries in Europe.

Klaus said he is optimistic about China's economic outlook, adding that the slowdown of China economy is discussed frequently in Europe and the United States.

"I am a firm opponent of this topic. When China is achieving reaching 6-8 percent growth, the continent that has had roughly zero rate of growth for long period of time dares to call it slowdown," said Klaus.

Klaus said he knows that China faces many challenges but the debate should not be about growth rate itself. "And the debate should be about whether China will bring positive growth and my answer is yes," he said.