CCTV9英语新闻：Czech Republic seeks stronger trade ties（在线收听）

The Czech Republic is a traditional industrial country in Europe with low inflation and unemployment rates. In recent years, it's seen increasing trade cooperation and diversified bilateral investment with China. Czech industry and trade minister Jan Mládek spoke highly of the potential of President Xi's upcoming visit to boost trade ties.

"We have tried to play the, if not leading, important role in this group. I've said it's the most promising partner for China. I think the very fact that Chinese president on his road to Europe and to the US, will land in Prague...we are at least we are partially successful," he said.

Mládek visited China shortly after he took office in January 2014.

He witnessed a number of signings of bilateral investment and trade cooperation projects.

"The development of China last year is impressive. We do believe that there are big opportunities on the both sides, not only concerning trade but also investment, both Czech investment into China and Chinese investment into the Czech Republic," he said.

Mládek says China is the Czech Republic's second largest importer, while Czech is only the sixteenth largest importing country for China.

He hopes the gap will gradually be narrowed through the constant development of bilateral ties.

"We are trying to persuade our Chinese partners that we are the country producing technologies, machinery, investment goods. We are trying to open the Chinese market this way.This is our aim. One point we would like to move forward on and the big forward push then is aviation," he said.

Mladek says he is anticipating President Xi's visit a lot, adding that a series of other important economic and trade events between the two countries will follow later this year.

"What is important besides the high-level visit, is the China Investment Forum which is happening in every year for the last three years. There's a huge participation of the Chinese business people and this year it will happen in November. The second important thing is that People's Republic of China will be the partner country of the International Engineer fair which will be held in Brno in 3rd Oct to 7th oct. 2016," he said.