Czech Republic needs to deepen ties with China in all areas, says former PM

Jiri Rusnok, former Czech prime minister [Photo by Fu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Former prime minister of the Czech Republic Jiri Rusnok has never visited China but many Chinese cities and names of businesses are in his mind.

When President Xi Jinping flies to the Czech Republic for the state visit from March 28-30, Rusnok said it is time for his country to catch up to deepen cooperation in "all areas", following the steps of its European peers.

"In many areas, the bilateral relationship is not as good as it could be in for different years. Many of our peers are much advanced ahead of us," said Rusnok, who is going to be Czech governor of Central Bank soon.

"I am sure this will boost our relationship in all areas," said Rusnok about the visit, adding that the relationship will be deepened from business to culture, health, education, research, transport to science cooperation.

Rusnok said in Prague that the visit offers many opportunities as there are untapped potentials to boost cooperation further.

But Hungary, Poland and Western European powers such as Germany, France and recently UK have already set up strategic cooperation partnership with China.

"So it seems we are catching up something we missed in the recent decade and I welcome the progress made by my president and prime minister during the recent two or three years," he says

Rusnok said the reasons behind the changes are natural development inside Czech politics and the majority of the political representatives have realized that their country had missed some opportunities in developing relationship with China and gaining more Chinese market.

"We definitely, in my opinion, made some mistakes in the past. So there are some pragmatic approaches from us. I am glad of that," he said.

"And we are following our partners in European Union and they are a few years ahead us."

Asked if the Czech Republic should consider joining the Asia Infrastructural Investment Bank, he said the Czech Republic should do so as many of its European Union peers did it.

"I am sure that if we join, facilitating our businesses to win tenders of some projects financed by this bank is possible," says Rusnok.

He said it is very obvious Asia and East Europe are regions with high development potentials.

"So I think we should not miss this opportunity. So I think the Czech government should consider this opportunity to join the bank," said Rusnok. "But I am not sure whether it will be discussed or not during President Xi's visit."

As to the cooperation, Rusnok said both sides should consider transport as one of priorities because of European gateway location of the Czech Republic, which links East Asia and Europe.

"And Prague airport still has potentials for both passenger and cargo transport," he says.

Rusnok said after direct fight between Beijing and Prague, another one between Chengdu and Prague is under consideration while Prague is trying to link Shanghai by direct flight.

"Chengdu airport is an interesting place for us as it is still has capacity compared with Beijing and Shanghai," said Rusnok.

Chengdu, according to him, is an ideal transfer airport for the Europeans to travel to Southeast Asia or South Asia.

For example, he said every year, more than 300,000 Czechs visit Thailand and if only 20 percent use this line via Chengdu that will help this flight line become economically feasible.

And cargo transport is also encouraging. As many Asian investors have launched their businesses in Czech's manufacturing and industrial areas, which are very competitive.

"They need to transport electronic parts from China and so cargo transport via aviation is also important," he said.

As to whether Czech should consider involving China to build high-speed railway, Rusnok said Czech is underdeveloped in this area and there should be long-term intention to consider such programs.

He said the Czech Republic knows that China is helping developing such programs in other Central and Eastern European countries.

"We will take this as kind of reference project and reach further into the Central Europe if it is successful," said Rusnok.