The plane with the Chinese delegation, which was accompanied over the Czech Republic by two Czech Army Gripen fighters, landed in Prague about two hours after noon. Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) welcomed Si Jinping at Václav Havel Airport. The presidential convoy then headed to the Hilton Hotel. On the nearby Hlávka Bridge, the delegation welcomed about 150 people, mostly Chinese with flags, banners, drums and waving. According to Hospodářské noviny, these events are provided by the Chinese embassy.

Si Jinping left the Hilton Hotel for the castle in Lány, where he was welcomed by President Milos Zeman. The two politicians planted a memorial tree in the castle park, exchanged gifts, and the Chinese president entered the castle memorial book. Zeman also dined with Si Jinping. Jinping is the first president Zeman has invited to the summer residence of Czech presidents.

The Chinese president in Prague was also welcomed by Czech and Chinese flags, which were hoisted by the Mixed Czech-Chinese Chamber of Cooperation on the route from the airport to the Castle. Today, a group of activists tried to exchange several Chinese flags for Tibetan ones. The Prague police detained 12 of them on suspicion of a misdemeanor. The event was accompanied by a clash between Chinese people ready to welcome the president, activists and carolers passing by.

The exchange between the Chinese and the people who demonstrated in support of Tibet also took place in the park at Evropská třída, where the Václav Havel Construction Association installed a mobile billboard with the Tibetan Dalai Lama, former President Václav Havel and the words “These are the gentlemen here at home”. Before the presidential convoy passed, however, several dozen Chinese gathered in front of the billboard, who covered the view of the poster with Chinese flags.

Remember how VK entered, in Vienna 96, hok. to the locker room and thought he was supporting him (Vaska, you’re a nice guy ..)? MZ is trying to do the same with Pching

– Michael Romancov (@MichaelRomancov) March 28, 2016

A few hours before the arrival of the Chinese delegation in Prague, it attracted the attention of President Miloš Zeman, who on Chinese television criticized the past Czech government’s policy toward China. According to Zeman, the cabinet was under pressure from the United States and the European Union, so Czech-Chinese relations were very bad. “We are now an independent country and we are formulating our foreign policy, which is based on our own interests. We are not interfering in the interests of any other country, “Zeman told CCTV.

Kalousek: We are part of the EU

On the statement of the head of state react sharply among others, the chairman of the opposition TOP 09 Miroslav Kalousek, who was Prime Minister Petr Nečas, the Minister of Finance. “The Czech Republic is part of the European Union, so the EU is not something that can push us from the outside, the USA is our partner within NATO. The statement of the head of state thus basically rejects the long-term foreign and security policy of the Czech Republic, “said Kalousek.

Former Prime Minister Nečas also objected to Zeman’s words. “It was a government under my leadership that launched a turn towards a more pragmatic policy towards China,” he wrote. The Czech president, on the contrary for example, the Minister of Finance and the chairman of the ANO movement, Andrej Babiš, according to which Zeman wants to restart Czech-Chinese relations.

The main program of the Chinese president’s visit is scheduled for Tuesday. He will officially hold talks with Zeman at Prague Castle and will meet other top constitutional officials at the Liechtenstein Palace. On Wednesday, the presidents of both states attended the economic forum in Žofín.