Within the framework of the state visit of the President of the Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, to the Czech Republic, Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis had one-on-one meetings with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Pojar on 2 December, and Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade M. Hovorka on 3 December. After his meeting with Mr. Hovorka, Mr. Kouvelis delivered the opening speech at the Czech-Hellenic Business Forum.

In his bilateral meetings and in his address to the Forum, Mr. Kouvelis referred to the good bilateral relations between the two countries, the similarities in their historical courses and the common values that govern them on a global and European level.

He stressed that it is desirable and necessary that these good political relations be complemented by the further development of economic and trade relations, mentioning that the total volume of trade between the Czech Republic and Greece could – with the necessary effort and the taking of mutual, relevant initiatives – increase to the benefit of both countries. In this regard, he clarified that seeking new sectors in which to cooperate would be beneficial, while the Greek side must put emphasis on the exporting of products with designation of origin.

The Deputy Minister referred in particular to the satisfactory tourist flows developing between the two countries and the important contribution of tourists to fostering understanding between the two peoples, stressing that the tourism sector can be strengthened even further. He also referred to the importance to Greece of the search for new conditions for green economic development, an endeavor that the new government has set as a priority.