Han Zheng, mayor of Shanghai City, met Sunday with Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic.  

Mayor Han briefed the visiting Czech president on the recent economic development of Shanghai.

He told Klaus that Shanghai was an important coastal city and he hoped that more Czech entrepreneurs could participate in Shanghai's future economic development.

Klaus said he visited Shanghai ten years ago and he had witnessed a rapid development of the metropolis.

He noted that the Czech Republic would become a member country of the European Union soon and he hoped his visit would help to increase mutual understanding of the two sides and enhance the bilateral trade and economic exchanges.

Arrived in Shanghai via Hong Kong, Klaus is on a state visit to China from April 16 to 23 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2004)