Czech president embraces initiative with rich returns

Probably no other world leader has spent as much time in and given as much attention to engaging China as Czech President Milos Zeman. On July 19, Zeman invited about 1,500 businesspeople, experts and officials from the Czech Republic and China to Prague Castle for a wrap-up dinner at the conclusion of the China Investment Forum.

The Prague event was one of the largest investment gatherings since Beijing hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May. In his address to the guests, Zeman said he was impressed by the response of European and Chinese participants to President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative.

"A fire burns high when everybody adds wood to it," according to a Chinese proverb. And Zeman has been providing a lot of fuel to propel the initiative ever since Xi proposed it to better connect Asia, Europe and Africa. Apart from attending the Beijing forum, Zeman has also welcomed young soccer players, trainee pilots and media representatives from China to his office.