The German president was welcomed at the station, for example, by Rudolf Jindrák, director of the Foreign Department of Prague Castle, or Aleš Chmelař, Deputy Foreign Minister.

Steinmeier inspected the statue of the savior of the Jewish children, Nicholas Winton, on the first platform. He was accompanied by the Czech Ambassador to Germany Tomáš Kafka and the new German Ambassador to the Czech Republic Andreas Künne.

Before leaving for Prague, Steinmeier described his visit to the Czech Republic as a journey into the past, because relations between Czechs and Germans were not always the best.

But he is now convinced that the neighborhood and partnership are on solid foundations that will not jeopardize any political developments.

The German media consider it extraordinary that Steinmeier went to the Czech Republic by train. This is his first such foreign visit.

Steinmeier further told Czech Television that the train journey shows that there is no other European capital from Berlin as close as Prague. “This is true geographically, but I think I can say it is due to the good neighborhood of our countries,” he said.

The German president was also accompanied to Prague by the writer Jaroslav Rudiš.

“It’s a big signal that talks about the railway, for the Czechs and for the Germans. It’s great to realize that every two hours this train runs here between Prague and Berlin. Not every European metropolis has such a great connection, “Rudiš told ČTK after his birth.

While driving, he took part in the president’s debate with commuters. He stated that these cross-border workers considered the head of the Federal Republic to be very important. “They actually live the everyday life of Czech-German relations on a daily basis. It was also a very interesting story for me, “he said.

The delegation had lunch in a dining car, served with sirloin and a pancake for dessert.

“It was served at the request of the president of the legend on the dormitories and the legend of Czech Railways, Mr. Peterka from Jeseník, who was called to serve and served the German president, if I said that with Bohumil Hrabal,” Rudiš explained.

A few years ago, he wrote a great report on Chief German Peterk for the German daily.

Steinmeier left Prague for the chateau in Lány, the summer residence of the Czech presidents. He laid flowers at the grave of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrigu Masaryk.

This was followed by a private dinner with President Zeman, which was served in the open air in a tent. In addition to the two presidents, the first ladies – Ivana Zemanová and Elke Büdenbenderová – also sat next to it.

The official meeting is scheduled for both presidents until Thursday morning.

Zeman welcomes the German president to Prague Castle with military honors. The meeting will be preceded by a pieta in the crypt of the Orthodox Church in Resslova Street, where Steinmeier will honor the memory of Czechoslovak paratroopers who fell in battle with the Nazis after the assassination of the deputy imperial protector Reinhard Heydrich.

Steinmeier will be the first head of the German state to come to the National Monument to the Heroes of the Heydrichiad. He said on Wednesday that Germany was remembering its responsibility.

He recalled that in addition to the assassins, a number of other innocent people had died. He called it a duty to send the current good neighborhood, especially for the future.

On Thursday, the German president will also meet with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Radek Vondráček (YES) and the Speaker of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil (ODS), talks with Prime Minister Babiš are planned for Friday.

In addition to Prague, Steinmeier will visit Ústí nad Labem, where, among other things, he will see a multimedia exhibition called Our Germans.

He also plans to visit the Strahov Monastery, meet representatives of German companies or the reception at the German embassy.

He will also meet privately with former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09), TOP 09 spokesman Vladan Vaněk confirmed to ČTK.