Both Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jiri Havlicek and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Martin Tlapa’s participation stressed the importance of this event. The regional representatives of MPaO/CzechTrade and CzechTourism, Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Hong Kong Mr. J. Kanturek and Deputy Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai also accepted the invitation to this event. 

On the first day, the most significant Czech investors from different sectors in China, such as financial services, automobile industry and engineering, the most modern technology to improve the environment, biomedical research, sophisticated hospital beds, were introduced to the Chinese partners from selected ministries and agencies, such as representatives of the Ministry of Commerce of People's Republic of China, representatives from business communities and representatives of Chinese regions. However, the distributors of traditional Czech products could not have missed this event, for example glass, wine, beer, confectionery. Among companies, which shared their experiences and plans in Chinese markets are: Home Credit China, Sotio China, Škoda China, Nafigate Corporation, Linet, Preciosa, Lasvit, Moravia IT, Tedom, T-Machinery, Žďas and Elcom. A number of other representatives of the Czech business also took part in this event. The Vice President of Light Aircraft Association Mr. J. Fridrich acquainted the audience the history of Czech aviation, also introduced the comprehensive offer of Czech aviation industry in the framework of economic diplomacy project of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - „Czech general aviation: A-Z solution for China“.

In the afternoon, the Czech Embassy prepared three expert discussions panels for the numerous guests. The first panel was focused on the involvement of China's newly proclaimed reform process, which can bring more exciting opportunities for the foreign investors. The significant guests from MOFCOM (Trade Development Bureau), CASS, Changhong, Home Credit China and Great River Hill Winery attended this panel. In the following panel, Sotio China and Nafigate Corporation shared their experience, those companies have already successfully transferred the technology to PRC. Among the discussants in this panel were also colleagues from MIIT and representatives of technological zones in Beijing and Suzhou (SIPAC), where the Czech offices of the company are located (or will be located in the future). Impressive ending of the panel was provided by the Czech architects Ivana and Jan Benda, founders of famous Benda Architects based in Shanghai. The couple shared some of their long Chinese experience. In the third panel the Czech Republic was introduced as the strategic place for the foreign investment, there was a platform of discussion for the most significant Chinese investors (e.g. Huawei) or potential investors (e.g. Xinyuan). A special section paid attention to the newly emerging FTZ and phenomenon of Chinese foreign investments.

Approximately 300 guests attended the following festive Reception, the main guest from Chinese side was Deputy of International Department of Central Committee CPC Mr. Yu Hongjun. The attendees of the workshop were able to continue with discussions about how to promote bilateral relation in a relaxed atmosphere in the presence of the esteemed guests in the “garden part” of the embassy.

The second day was focused on strengthening regional cooperation. After the opening speech of Deputy Minister Mr. M. Tlapa, both Mayor of Prague 1 Mr. O. Lomecky and Director of the Division of European Countries of MOFCOM Mr. Chen Ming also delivered speeches, which were focused on the cooperation between MOFCOM and Central-Eastern Europe. Representatives from Chaoyang District and Changping District ofBeijing, Sino-Czech-Slovak Friendship Farm, Chengdu and Mianyang also had the chance to introduce their Science Parks, Hi-Tech Zones with generous offers for foreign investors. Head officers of CzechTrade in China also introduced investment environment and the most significant exhibition fairs in the Czech Republic.

The entire two-day workshop fulfilled with important appointments and meetings was arranged with Czech companies in order to provide space for presenting their achievements, creating a summary of relations in trade and investment, and letting those mutual relations gain new charm and dynamism. Therefore the workshop primarily served as a discussion platform for new suggestions in the field of mutual economic cooperation. The jubilee year of the horse will be honored with a number of events and important visits of Czech representatives to China, we will inform you about it in advance.

Thank you to all participants for their participation and cooperation (or active contribution to the debate) and we look forward to meeting you in next events!

Program of the Workshop:

Day one: Bilateral economic co-operation, March 20^th

08:30-09:00        Registration and Coffee

Moderator for “Day one”: Richard Krpac, Economic Section, Embassy of the Czech Republic

09:00-09:10        Welcoming Speech by H.E. Mr. Libor Secka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

09:10-09:25        Opening speech I., Mr. Jiri Havlicek, 1^st Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

09:25-09:40        Opening speech II. , Mr. Sun Yongfu, Director General, Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Commerce

 

09:40-09:50        Group Photograph

 

Part 1: Where we are and where are we headed

10:00-12:00        Czech companies sharing their Chinese experience:

• Home Credit China(PPF Group), Michal Skocil, Chief Executive Officer
• Sotio China(PPF Group), Libor Taborsky, General Manager
• Škoda China, Andreas Hafemann, Škoda China President, Škoda VCIC
• Nafigate Corporation, Lenka Mynarova, Member of Board
• Linet, Ivo Martis, CEO Asia – Pacific
• Preciosa, Lukas Havlicek, Chief Representative of Precios Lighting - Shanghai
• Lasvit, Pavel Kacir, Area Manager China,
• Moravia IT, Jason Mao, Director of Operations Asia
• Tedom, Jiri Horak, Executive Assistant
• T-Machinery, Pavol Janik, Legal Representative
• Žďas, Pavel Ondracek, Area Sales Manager
• Elcom, Jiri Holoubek, Financial Director, Elcom HK
• “Czech general aviation: A-Z solution for China”, Jan Fridrich, Vice-President of Light aircraft association

 

12:00-13:00        Lunch (interviews with media)

Part 2: Future prospects and opportunities

13:00-15:00        Panel discussions on future prospects in the light of further reform process in China

13:00-14:15        Panel 1) Possible Czech involvement in the Chinese reform process

Moderator: Klara Jurcova, Head of Economic Section, Embassy of the Czech Republic

• Jia Guoyong, Deputy Director General, MOFCOM (Trade Development Bureau)
• “The Foreign Investment of Chinese Enterprises and the opportunities for the Czech Republic”, Dr. Pei Changhong, Director of Institute of Economic, CASS
• “Czech Republic as a European base for further investment in Europe”,Wang Yuechun,Director of Department of Overseas Strategic Development, Changhong
• “Home Credit, a driving force for consumption, contributes to the China Dream”,  Radek Bednář, Chief Sales Officer, Home Credit China
• Maros Breda, General Manager, Qingdao Great River Hill Winery

Q&A (15 minutes)

14.15-14:30        Coffee break

14:30-15:45        Panel 2) Technology co-operation

Moderator: Dr. Martina Gerst, Standards and Conformity Expert, EU SME Center

• “China's ICT industry: overview, trends and opportunities”, Cao Jianhua, Deputy Director General of the Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation
• “Technological Development Area BDA Introduction”, Li Dongmin, Director of Industry Promotion Bureau, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Yizhuang
• “Biomedicine Research Transfer to China”, Libor Taborsky, CEO SOTIO Medical Research Beijing
• “Nanopolis Suzhou, to build an international community for Nanotech Innovation & Commercialization”, Mr. Jacky Wu, Director of Science & Technology Development Center, SIPAC and Executive VP in Nanopolis Suzhou Co. Ltd.
• “Transfer of Czech Biotechnology Hydal to Chinese market” Lenka Mynarova , Member of Board of Nafigate Corporation and representative of Hydal project/CTCC

                              Q&A (15 minutes)                        

 

15:45-16:00        Coffee break

16:00-17:30        In Search of Partners: investment opportunities ahead?

Moderator: Richard Krpac, Economic Section, Embassy of the Czech Republic, TBC

 

• A word from a Chinese investor in CZ: Zhang Chunxiang, Senior Vice President, Huawei
• A word from a potential Chinese investor to CZ: Zhang Zhengang, Managing Director, Xin Yuan Real Estate
• „Not only why, but where to invest in the Czech Republic: Czech –Sino Trade and Investment Zone“ – CzechInvest, TBC
• „Chinese Outward Investment“, David Xu, Partner, KPMG
• SFTZ “and the other zones” as new investment opportunities for foreign investors, Ronan Diot, Senior Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright
• “Chinese Bank`s Overseas Development“, Zhang Lixing, Deputy Director General, CBRC

                              Q&A (30 minutes)               

 

18:00-20:00        Reception (separate Invitation)

Day two: Regional cooperation in the CEEC context and tourism, March 21^st

 

08:30-09:00        Registration and Coffee

Moderator for “Day two”: Sandra Lang-Linkensederova, Economic Section, Embassy of the Czech Republic

09:00-09:10        Welcoming Speech by the Ambassador Libor Sečka

09:10-09:25        Opening speech I.: Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy Martin Tlapa, MFA

09:25-09:40        Opening Speech II.: European Department, MFA of the PRC, TBC

 

09:40-09:50        Group Photograph

 

Part 1 Bilateral regional cooperation in the CEEC context

10:00-11:45        Bilateral regional cooperation and investment opportunities in selected regions, TBC

• Prague 1, Oldrich Lomecky, Mayor
• Beijing, Chaoyang District, Ma Yinghui, Director of Beijing Chaoyang Investment Promotion Bureau
• Beijing, Changping District, Zhou Ling, Director of Beijing Changping Investment Promotion Bureau
• Sino-Czech-Slovak Friendship farm
• Mianyang
• Chengdu Investment Promotion Commission Beijing Office, Mr. Tan Xin, Director

Q&A

11.45-12:00        Coffee break

12:00-13:00        For CN regions: Meeting with CzechTrade and other trade and investment related agencies/chambers, including briefing on International Engineering Fair in Brno 2014 and Project of economic diplomacy “Czech General Aviation: A to Z solution for China”

For CZ companies: CEEC Ningbo event (8-11 June) – MOFCOM briefing, European Division, Chen Ming

 

13:00-14:00        Lunch

 

Part 2 Czech Republic welcomes Chinese tourists

14:30-15:00        (registration for travel agencies)

15:00-15:10        Welcoming Speech, TBC

15:00-16:30        Czech Republic as an ideal destination for Chinese tourists, Noemi Benesova, Head of CzechToursim Beijing

                                              Visas to Czech Republic, Katerina Vovkova, Head of Consular Section, Embassy of the Czech Republic

                               Prague`s Airport PPT, CzechTrade/CzechTourism

Q&A

 

16:30-17:30        Light Refreshment