Ji?í Paroubek, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, met Premier Wen Jiabao in Prague yesterday and they signed a joint declaration pledging to further develop relations.

"The two countries agreed to develop good relations within the framework of the China-European Union comprehensive strategic partnership and on the basis of the 1999 (Sino-Czech) joint communiqué," according to the document.

"To keep and promote bilateral relations is in line with the aspirations of the two peoples and is in the interests of both countries," it said, adding that both sides respected each other's choice of development path and domestic and foreign policies in line with their own national conditions.

The Czech government said it would stick to a "one China" policy, which the Chinese side said was appreciated.

They agreed to complete as soon as possible the preparation of a final text for an agreement to avoid double taxation and tax fraud, and also to consult on exports of Czech agricultural products to China.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, culture, education, sports, public health, tourism and civil aviation and enhance exchanges on regional levels and among citizens.

They underlined each other's obligations in the protection of human rights and the importance of dialogue between China and the EU on the issue. The Czech side welcomed China's pledge to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as soon as possible.

The two sides voiced support for a stronger UN and for UN reform. Both favor the democratization of international relations, respect of multilateralism and diversification of cultures and development models.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2005)