Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman sign a joint statement on lifting the two countries' ties to a strategic partnership after their talks in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

　　China and the Czech Republic on Tuesday agreed to elevate their ties to a strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to the country, as the two nations inked a host of intergovernmental agreements to promote ties in various areas.

　　The agreement came after Xi held talks with his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman at the Prague Castle, the seat of the Presidential Office of the Czech Republic.

　　During the talks, the two presidents discussed issues concerning bilateral ties, China-EU relations as well as cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries, reaching broad consensus.

　　Hailing the positive momentum of bilateral ties and the flourishing economic cooperation, Xi said China is ready to work with the Czech Republic to cherish the sound yet hard-won bilateral relations, consolidate the traditional friendship and strengthen mutual political trust and promote pragmatic cooperation.

　　The two sides agreed to strengthen the synergy of China's "Belt and Road Initiatives," and the Czech development strategies, and jointly draw up a cooperation plan between the two countries, so as to serve as the framework for guiding their practical cooperation in the next period.

　　The two presidents agreed to redefine the bilateral ties in the hope of seeking more common interests and conducting cooperation on a deeper level.

　　The two sides decided to firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns in order to ensure the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, calling for coordination and cooperation on major international and regional issues so as to contribute to world peace, development and cooperation.

　　The two countries issued a joint statement on lifting their ties to a strategic partnership after the talks, in which the two sides agreed to continue making close high-level contacts as the exemplary for over-all relations, enhancing friendly cooperation between ministries, legislative bodies and local governments.