China, Czech Republic pledge for deepened co-op by forging strategic partnership

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman attend a press conference after their talks in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 29, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

As one of the three pillars of strategic partnership, people-to-people exchanges are also top on the agenda of Xi's visit.

During the talks, the two presidents agreed to broaden people-to-people and cultural exchanges in various fields, deepen cooperation in education, tourism, local-level exchange and sports, and increase the scale of exchange students, so as to consolidate the social foundation for the long-term and steady development of bilateral ties.

China has agreed to open a direct flight between Shanghai and Prague by China Eastern Airlines to boost personnel exchanges and bring benefits to the two peoples, said Xi.

He called on both countries to further promote traditional Chinese medicine in the Czech Republic, which hosts the first traditional Chinese medicine research center in the CEE.

Also on Tuesday, the two presidents met with a group of young ice hockey players and football players from both countries, encouraging them to contribute to the bilateral sports exchanges.

Besides cultural and people-to-people cooperation, local cooperation has also played an important role in China-Czech relationship in recent two years.

The cities of Beijing and Prague signed a deal to forge sister city relationship on Tuesday. In fact, all 13 states of the Czech Republic have set up cooperative ties with provinces and cities in China.

People-to-people exchanges are "decipherers" in cross-culture communication, said Zhao Junjie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"It helps to enhance mutual understanding and avoid biases among peoples, which in turn, will lay a solid foundation for bilateral ties," said Zhao.

Xi arrived Monday in Prague for a three-day state visit. It is the first state visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties.