Sobotka: Belgrade meeting chance to strengthen cooperation

BELGRADE - Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka stated on Tuesday that the Belgrade meeting of the prime ministers of China and 16 countries from Central and Eastern Europe offers a chance to strengthen their cooperation.

This is a generative platform, and its common goal is to ensure better living quality for our citizens, as well as counter corruption and strengthen rule of law, the Czech prime minister said.

He underscored that the mechanism of cooperation in the 16-plus-1 format rests on strong foundations and added that the Belgrade meeting offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen the cooperation.

At the opening ceremony of the 4th Economic Forum in Belgrade's Sava Centre, Sobotka said that the Czech Republic wishes to be an active participant in the 16-plus-1 format and added that his country has a great desire to deepen its cooperation with China.

Our region needs to have a driving force and the stress rests on regional cooperation which should be taken to a whole new dimension, he said.

Sobotka announced that Prague would host the meeting of heads of government in 2016, and added that the healthcare summit of China and Central and Eastern European countries would be organised in Prague next year.

Photo Tanjug, O. Toskic