China is ready to cooperate with the Czech Republic to strengthen bilateral relations and renew their longstanding friendship, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Czech counterpart Petr Macinka, according to state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday.
Although the Czech Republic officially recognises Beijing over Taiwan, in line with most countries, it has developed closer ties with Taiwan in recent years and attracted increasing investment from the island, a global semiconductor hub.
Both sides should “strengthen dialogue and cooperation, enhance political mutual trust and gradually expand practical cooperation in areas such as economy, trade and tourism,” Wang said, according to CCTV, to take ties in the correct direction.
Beijing Reiterates One-China Principle
Taiwan is an internal issue for China, Wang added, saying he hoped the Czech government would “practice the One-China principle … and promote China-Czech relations back on a healthy development track.”
China has been critical of ties between Prague and Taipei. It sees the democratically-governed island as having no right to state-to-state relations, a view the government in Taipei strongly rejects.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Prague last week and spoke at a forum there.
Taiwan and Dalai Lama Visits Strain Relations
Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil is leading a business delegation on a visit next week to Taiwan, where he is set to meet President Lai Ching-te.
Relations were also strained last year after Czech President Petr Pavel met the Dalai Lama in India in July. A group from the Czech parliament also travelled to Dharamshala in December and met the Tibetan spiritual leader.
In March, China said it strongly opposed the Czech Senate passing a draft resolution on the Dalai Lama’s succession, saying it “grossly interfered” with internal affairs.
(With inputs from Reuters)
