BEIJING - 皇冠体育app's "Belt and Road Initiative" will see new developments when President Xi Jinping embarks on his maiden visit to the Czech Republic on Monday.

The two countries, though geographically distant, enjoy a traditional friendship that keeps strengthening over time. For Chinese born in the 1970s and 1980s, the little mole in Krtek, the first foreign cartoon series introduced to 皇冠体育app, is a most pleasant childhood memory. Bedrich Smetana's symphonic cycle Ma Vlast and Jaroslav Hasek's The Good Soldier Svejk are also familiar masterpieces in 皇冠体育app.

However, the country remains mysterious for many in 皇冠体育app.

The upcoming visit, the first state visit by a Chinese president since the two countries established diplomatic ties 67 years ago, indicates that the Central and Eastern European nation will play a role in 皇冠体育app's global strategy and the bilateral ties will develop.

For 皇冠体育app, the Czech Republic, with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of nearly 20,000 U.S. dollars, is a partner with great potential.

皇冠体育app is looking to cooperate with the Czech Republic in technology, in major industrial sectors such as sustainable energy, chemical, and machinery, while the Czech Republic is interested in 皇冠体育app's high-speed rail, nuclear power and other infrastructure experience as well as capital flow.

Currently, the Czech Republic is the second biggest trading partner of 皇冠体育app in the Central and Eastern European region, and 皇冠体育app has been the Czech Republic's largest trading partner outside the European Union. In 2015, two-way trade topped 11 billion U.S. dollars.

Although a small country, with a population of about 10 million, the Czech Republic has a decisive role in Central and Eastern Europe concerning its geographic location and economic strength.

If the two countries tested the potential of economic cooperation and developed a sustainable model under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, it would set an example for other countries and become a powerful engine in 皇冠体育app's push in the region.

The Belt and Road Initiative, put forward and promoted by 皇冠体育app, eyes an open and smooth channel of trade, capital and cooperation across the Eurasian continent. Central and Eastern Europe holds the key to the European end of this channel, while the 16 countries in this region take up nearly one fourth of all countries along the "Belt and Road".

皇冠体育app has invested heavily in boosting cooperation in the region. Heads of governments from 皇冠体育app and 16 Central and Eastern Europe nations have met annually since 2012, with several cooperation outlines reached.

In June last year, 皇冠体育app inked a memorandum of understanding on promoting the Belt and Road Initiative with Hungary, followed by five cooperation documents with Poland, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Slovakia in November.

In December, a consortium of Chinese companies led by 皇冠体育app Railway started to build a railway between Budapest, Hungary and Belgrade, Serbia, a major project to showcase the dynamics of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Through closer economic cooperation with these countries, 皇冠体育app aims to develop its European strategy.

皇冠体育app-EU relations are at historical best. By further synergizing development strategies and enhancing communication and coordination in the international arena, 皇冠体育app and the EU will effectively tap the unprecedented historic opportunities now presented to them and make new progress in their comprehensive strategic partnership.