The main programme of the visit began on Tuesday, 10 March, with a meeting between the President of the Republic and his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkēvičs, at Riga Castle, where the two heads of state had the opportunity to hold a private tête-à-tête. On this occasion, President Pavel received from the Latvian President the Order of the Three Stars, the country’s highest state honour. Following the delegation talks, President Pavel also met with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Speaker of Parliament Daiga Mieriņa.

During the day, President Pavel and the Latvian Head of State also jointly opened the Czech-Latvian Business Forum, attended by more than one hundred representatives of around sixty companies, scientific institutions, and public administration bodies from both countries, who discussed concrete cooperation, for example in the defence industry, transport, and energy sectors. The presidents then laid flowers at the Freedom Monument and visited the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. In the early evening, they moved on to Riga Central Station, where they had the opportunity to inspect railcars made by the Czech company Škoda Group, which is supplying train sets to Latvia.

On Wednesday, 11 March, President Pavel began the programme with a visit to the military base in Ādaži, where he met with commanders of Allied units and with soldiers of the Czech contingent serving as part of NATO’s mission in the Baltics. This was followed by a tour of Bauska Castle, whose restoration involved Czech experts, and Rundāle Palace. The presidential couple then departed for Vilnius, where they are continuing their state visit to the Republic of Lithuania.

Link to the photo gallery here.

Source: Office of the President / Prague Castle