Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

A DIRECT flight to Prague will most likely open next May to promote more trade, technology and people-to-people exchanges between Shenzhen and the Czech Republic, according to an embassy official attending the Second Shenzhen-Central and Eastern European Countries Economy & Trade Technology and Culture Forum in Shenzhen yesterday.

“The route has been approved by aviation authorities, and we are at the final decision-making stage of realizing the new direct flight next year,” said Klara Jurcova, deputy head of mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in China.

It will be the fifth air route between China and the Czech Republic, and Jurcova thinks Shenzhen is highly complementary to the Czech Republic’s offerings of technology, products and services. Cooperation in a wide range of sectors, such as trade, e-commerce, environmental technology, information technology and finance, could be enhanced.

“The Czech Republic is the fastest-growing economy among EU member countries, as well as CEE countries, and thanks to its strategic location, highly educated labor force and good living environment it can serve as a European base for enterprises from China,” said Jurcova.

Prior to the forum, Czech Ambassador Bedrich Kopecky also sent his support for the Czech delegation to the China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF), where eight enterprises from the Czech Republic displayed their latest technologies, such as nanofibers, a revolutionary material in air filtration developed by Applinno.

A window screen made of nanofibers was selected as one of the 10 most-favored products at the 19th China Hi-Tech Fair. Due to the unique physical characteristics of the nanofiber network, small particles are efficiently captured, so people can enjoy excellent air flow without being exposed to health threats such as bacterial infection, allergies and pollution.

Jurcova thought the CHTF and the Shenzhen-CEE forum would be good platforms for Czech companies to enter the Chinese market. More promotion of the Czech Republic will be organized in 2018 in Shenzhen and other cities in South China under the 4th edition of Czech Days project: Czech Days in the Greater Pearl River Delta 2018.

This year’s forum, organized by the Shenzhen Central and Eastern European Countries Economy and Culture Association, attracted 73 delegates from 12 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and 90 local enterprises and industry representatives.

The enterprises from CEE countries are mainly engaged in environmental protection, artificial intelligence, agricultural production, scientific innovation, medical care, new energy, culture and higher education.