The forum was opened on Monday 15 October with a welcome reception in the Czernin Palace, held under the auspices of Jan Hamáček, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The toast was proposed by Hou Wenbo, Managing Director of the Bank of China Czech Republic, a CIF general partner.

The CIF gala opening took place on Tuesday 16 October at the Prague Castle under the auspices of Marta Nováková, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, who delivered the opening speech. The Chinese party was represented by Cao Jianming, Vice Chairperson of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the People’s Republic of China. The European guests were represented by Lilyana Pavlova, Minister for Bulgarian presidency of the EU 2018. The Chinese party was also represented by Huo Yuzhen, Envoy for Coopertation between CEEC and China from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Chang Zhenming, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CITIC Group, a CIF 2018 general partner.

The opening was followed with panels discussions in the premises of the State Rooms of the Prague Castle. The topics were: Financial Cooperation and Banking, Digital Economy, Cooperation Projects within the Belt and Road Initiative and Agriculture and Food Industry.

The last part of this main meeting day was the gala dinner held under the auspices of Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic. In addition to President Zeman, Vice Chairperson Cao also delivered a speech. The toast was proposed by Jiří Šmejc, the co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Home Credit, a CIF general partner.

The Wednesday 17 October saw bilateral meetings and B2B meetings. Another point on the agenda was the Debate on Relations with China in the Light of the China Investment Forum 2018 that was jointly co-organised with the Institute for Politics and Society in the Kaiserstein Palace.

An interview was published on the website of the Czech News Agency.

Photo: ČTK/Ceskenoviny.cz

An interview published on the website of the Czech News Agency.

Photo: ČTK/Ceskenoviny.cz

CIF has become a widely acknowledged platform where investors meet and introduce their projects. This year saw more than one thousand guests: half of them represented the PRC or leading Chinese companies while other guests came not only from the Czech Republic and other CEE 16+1 countries but also from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland or Germany.

The agenda started with B2B meetings with Zhejiang Province businessmen in the Hotel Intercontinental on 14 November. This meeting was attended by more than 250 entrepreneurs who enjoyed an excellent opportunity for networking and starting new projects. The welcoming gala dinner was served in the Žofín Palace in the evening. The guests were greeted by Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek.

Opening remarks of Czech Prime Minister on the main meeting day of 15 November were followed by speeches by representatives of the Czech Republic and China. Panel discussions introduced cooperation opportunities and concrete projects in banking and finance, green technologies and industry, sustainable development, science and research, infrastructure, logistics and transport, e-commerce as a 21st century trading platform, China as a tourism strategic source or education and exchange of experience in culture and sport. China Investment Forum was closed by gala dinner under the auspices of President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman.

CIF 2016 was held in accordance with Suzhou Guidelines for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries adopted in November 2015 by Prime Ministers of these countries. It was already in 2014 when CIF was appointed as a key event for deepening the cooperation in investments, economy and trade by Bucharest Guidelines signed by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Prime Ministers of 16 CEE countries.

Spanish Hall and Rudolph Gallery of the Prague Castle are going to become the scene of this one of the most prestigious diplomatic-business meetings within the developing and intensive cooperation framework between 16 CEE countries and China. Dozens of guests from CEEC and China will attend this forum that takes place for the seventh time. Delegations from Chinese cities and provinces including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hebei, Hubei or Hainan are expected to attend.

Over the years the CIF has become a globally renowned effective instrument for top-level meetings or networking as well as for projects of mutual cooperation and business opportunities. The main topic of the CIF 2016 was chosen in compliance with Suzhou Guidelines for Cooperation between China and CEEC, which were adopted by Prime Ministers of CEEC and China in Suzhou in November 2015.

Organizers of the CIF 2016 are Czech China Chamber of Collaboration and China Economic Cooperation Center (CECC).

The Prague Airport to become a CEEC-EU-China air hub. Tourism industry development. Investments enabling the football club of Slavia Prague to get back to the top. Czech President Zeman’s wish to deepen cooperation in nanotechnologies or biotechnologies. This is how TV Barrandov reported about the CIF 2015.

Watch both reportages here (Czech only):

The Czech Republic will be China’s gateway to the EU, offered the Prime Minister Sobotka

Czech is a gateway to the European Union, invest in our major businesses, urged Prime Minister Sobotka Chinese businessmen

Prime Minister offers the Czech Republic to Chinese investors. Direct flights to Shanghai or new bank branches to be established

For Chinese airlines the Prague Airport could be more important than London

Minister Bělobrádek: The Czech Republic wants to cooperate with China in applied research

Zeman gushed over China: He spoke highly about Panda and Mole and drank a toast of water to the success

Just like in the previous years the CIF 2015 has become an important event in the relations not only between the Czech Republic and China but also between the PRC and other CEE countries. Meetings and discussions within the forum laid foundations for new cooperation in many areas and deepened existing collaboration. The most discussed topics were new agenda of financial cooperation as the initial bridge for other investors and entrepreneurs to the central European market and the potential of Prague as Chinese financial center of China for CEE. Other topics included new air connection between Prague and China as well as using potential of Prague as a hub for connections between CEE countries and China. This would constitute an exceptional opportunity for aviation as well as for development in tourism or other business cooperation.

The CIF 2015 was held under the auspices of Milos Zeman, President of the CR, and Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the CR. The highest ranking person from China was Mr. DU Qinglin, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

“We are beginning a new era of our traditional friendship,” said DU Qinglin. He added that the year 2015 is very important for 16+1 platform, it should see updates and improvement of the mutual collaboration scope. He also expressed his gratitude for long-term efforts to expand the friendship between China and CEE countries in this format.

“The Czech Republic highly appreciates the effective cooperation within the 16+1 platform and I am delighted to say that our country is one of the group main leaders,” said Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the CR, in his speech. He appreciated that the extraordinary successes in cooperation between China and CEEC included the Local Leaders Meeting 2014 or the Health Ministers Meeting 2015 and also the intensive mutual visits of political and regional delegations. “I am very glad to see excellent relationships not only between politicians at all levels but also in specific projects of pragmatic cooperation,” said Bohuslav Sobotka.

The CIF 2015 welcomed more than 700 guests from China and the CEE countries including the CR.