Czech President Vaclav Klaus expressed hope in Prague Tuesday that the friendship and cooperation between China and the Czech Republic would be strengthened and pushed forward to a new level.

Klaus made the remarks at a reception at the Chinese Embassy celebrating the 54th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

He spoke highly of the steady development of relations between the two countries.

It is his hope that China and the Czech Republic would make joint efforts to promote their exchange and cooperation at all levels, the president said.

Klaus praised China for its economic achievements and its fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Vaclav Klaus is the first Czech president to participate in the Chinese Embassy's National Day receptions since the independence of the Czech Republic in 1993.

Some other senior officials of the Czech Republic also attended Tuesday's reception.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2003)