(ANSA) - PRAGUE - Over five hundred entrepreneurs and Chinese politicians headed by vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, are participating at the giant forum organized in Prague, dedicated to attracting Chinese investors and opening the Chinese market to Czech exporters. "The development of cooperation with China is a priority of the Czech government", said the Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, speaking from the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle, which hosts the meeting of the Chinese delegation with more than 700 Czech entrepreneurs. The Czech premier said that the first necessary step in this direction was an introduction of a direct air link between Prague and one of major Chinese destinations, like Shanghai or Beijing. Chinese deputy Prime Minister, Zhang Gaoli, stressed China's will to cooperate with the entire Central and Eastern Europe, especially in construction of infrastructure (roads, railways and ports), and its interest to import Central European technologies.

Sobotka also mentioned the need for open dialogue of the two countries around the topic of human rights. The non-observance of human rights in China and Tibet was for many years strongly criticized by former President Czech president, Vaclav Havel, who was the first Head of State to invite Tibetan leader Dalai Lama in Prague. During the conference, dozens of persons gathered in front of the Prague Castle to protest against the Beijing regime. (ANSA).