CCTV9英语新闻：China, Czech Republic look to carry out more cultural exchanges（在线收听）

China and the Czech Republic are looking to carry out more cultural exchanges, especially between young students.

The romantic love story of a Chinese girl in the beautiful city of Prague.

The Chinese film “Somewhere Only We Know” was released on Valentine's Day last year.

Such was its success, it has been bringing thousands of Chinese tourists to the Czech capital since.

"Last year for example, they cooperate very closely with Hainan Airlines. They open the direct flight from Beijing to Prague last year, and this year there should be another direct flight from Prague to China, I think it's to Shanghai. So they also cooperate with those airlines and some joint marketing activities," said Marketa Vogelova, director of institute of tourism, Czechtourism.

However, language barriers make cultural exchanges difficult. 25-year-old Dominika is in her last year of postgraduate study at Palacky University. She spent a year as an exchange student in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. 

"Relations between the Czech Republic and China are ever improving. So, as students who study Chinese, we have the best opportunity to work for Czech companies in China, because we speak Chinese. Though I have not yet graduated, I am also being asked to help with their work," said Dominika Durisova, postgraduate student, Palacky University Olomouc.

The Confucius Institute, the organization that promotes the Chinese language and culture overseas, has recently expanded its operations, as political and economic relations between the two countries continue to improve.

"We had a big increase since 2012. Before that time, we have only a small number of students, but from 2012, the situation was changed, our increase of Chinese course and also students for Chinese teaching, was 700 people. They see the big potential making business with China and they would like to cooperate more with Chinese business partners," said Lucie Lanikova, director of Confucius Institute, Palacky University Olomouc.

Cultural understanding between the two nations is set to be given a real boost, as Prague has recently become a sister-city of the Chinese capital, Beijing. The visit by the Chinese president will undoubtedly further promote their relationship. Zhang He, CCTV, Prague.