Dear Vice Mayor Ai, dear distinguished guests from the Shanghai government, dear colleagues from the diplomatic court, dear friends from the Czech community, ladies and gentlemen

It is just a little more than 24 hours since the President of Czech Republic Zeman and president of China Xi Jin Ping shook their hands in Zhong Nan Hai in central Beijing. There was a clear atmosphere of understanding and friendship in the room when both presidents met. And their heartfelt words and ambitious plans for future cooperation between Czech Republic and China top off the development that our relations have undergone in the last 65 years.

Our mutual story began already in the first week of October 1949. On sunny Saturday of October First, Chairman Mao stood up on Tienanmen square and declared the beginning of People`s Republic of China. The Czechoslovakian government at that time did not hesitate and decided immediately on recognizing PRC and on establishing of the diplomatic relations. Therefore only few days later, our diplomatic envoy rushed to hand over the official documents to his counterparts in Beijing. And he did so already on Thursday, October 6 among the first, not even week after Chairman Mao`s declaration on Tienanmen. 

And thus the relations between our two nations began. And they were very often very intense and very good, benefiting both parties. Such as when throughout 1950s, before China reached full international recognition, Chinese maritime vessels and merchant ships were registered as Czech ships and sailed the oceans under the Czech flag, bringing back to China food, grain, tractors, machines and other goods from around the world. And when misunderstandings on some issues entered into our relationship, we followed advice of Zhou Enlai, who once said: “We may have different opinions on small things, but let´s face the big challenges together”. 

Thanks to our 65 year old friendship, cemented yesterday at the meeting of our presidents, our relationship has strong historic foundations and very, very promising future. I myself would love to invite all of you, our Chinese friends, to visit the beautiful Czech Republic. To this end, I would like to see the visa regime for Chinese tourists to be abolished in the near future completely. But, before we reach the visa free regime, our team at the Consulate will strive to make your visit at the Consulate as pleasant as possible. We want the Czech Consulate to become the most client-friendly Consulate in Shanghai.

Now, if I was from Beijing, I would invite you now for Beijing Duck, if I was from Shanghai, I would invite you for hairy crab. But because I am from Czech Republic, I am going to invite you for “hairy” dumplings, “hairy” sausages and “hairy” goulash, all made possible by our great Chef Mr. Sehnal and brought to you thanks to our partners: Kinex, Petrof, Skoda, Bernard, Budweiser, River Hill Wineries, Ludwig and Preciosa.

 

Last but not least, thanks to the Renaissance hotel team under the leadership of General Manager Jurgen Sterkau.

In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to one more anniversary. Some of you may remember the 1987 when American President Reagan flew to what was then called West Berlin. Behind the Berlin wall, he shouted at then Soviet leader: “Mr. Gorbatchev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL”. The Berlin wall came down two years later, on November 9, 1989. And therefore in two weeks we will celebrate the 25 anniversary of the fall of Iron Curtain.

Allow me now to raise the glass and toast to all the above mentioned anniversaries and also to the health of all of you and your families. Cheers