Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Czech Republic on Monday for a two-day state visit, the first visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two nations built diplomatic ties.

Xi said that he seeks to establish closer China-Czech ties and strengthen relations with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) during his visit.

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This is Xi's first visit to the CEE region since he assumed the presidency in 2013 and the first visit to Europe this year.

Cooperation agreements

Czech officials and experts are counting on Xi's visit to spur economic activities as the two sides are expected to sign cooperation agreements on economy and trade, infrastructure, health care, finance, aviation, culture, and science and technology.

Analysts from both countries said that the China-Czech relations have been ushered into "the best time in history."

Xi is scheduled to hold talks with Czech President Milos Zeman and meet Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. He is also expected to meet other officials of the Czech government.

Opportune time

"This is an opportune time for the development of the China-Czech relations. I look forward to working with Czech leaders to further enhance bilateral relations and push for new progress in '16+1' cooperation and China-EU  relations," Xi said in his statement which was issued ahead of his state visit.

Reports said that the Czech Republic is the second largest trading partner of China in Eastern and Central Europe over the past years while China has been Czech's largest trading partner outside of the European Union (EU).

Economists from both countries said Czech's advantageous location in Europe paired with its industrial foundation bode well with Beijing and Prague who have a potentially huge cooperation in nuclear power, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

"Belt and Road Initiative"

During Xi's visit, the two countries are expected to ink a number of cooperative agreements and follow up on China's "Belt and Road Initiative."

Reports said China's Belt and Road Initiative has created opportunities for economic cooperation between the two nations as they merge their efforts and capabilities in coming up with developmental strategies.

In November 2015, Beijing and Prague signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative.

Bilateral ties between Prague and Beijing have never been better with the opening of a direct flight between the two countries in 2015 and the inauguration of a Chinese medicine research center in the Czech Republic that same year. 

TagsCzech Republic, President Xi Jinping, Czech President Milos Zeman, China-Czech relations, cooperative agreements, Belt and Road Initiative