Rustam Minnikhanov: We have all the conditions to expand cooperation between Tatarstan and Czech Republic

On August 22, at the official residence of Tatarstan President at the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with a delegation of the Czech Republic led by Governor of South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic Michal Hašek.

Welcoming the guests, Minnikhanov thanked Michal Hašek for the visit and the opportunity to discuss prospects of cooperation between Tatarstan and South Moravian Region within the framework of Russian-Czech cooperation.

He reminded about his visit to the Czech Republic in April this year. "We held a Czech-Tatarstan business forum in Brno, an exhibition of folk arts and crafts, a concert of masters of the arts. Moreover, meetings with representatives of the business sector, leaders of the Czech Republic were arranged," Tatarstan President said.

Minnikhanov also said that in May he had a meeting with the President of the Czech Republic Mr. Miloš Zeman to discuss issues related to trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation between Tatarstan and the Czech Republic. "I am sure that all the political differences we can observe today will be settled sooner or later. The current situation is not beneficial to either of the parties, nobody wins in this conflict," Minnikhanov said.

He noted that today there are all the necessary conditions to expand cooperation between Tatarstan and the Czech Republic. Thus, a lot of Czech companies are successfully doing business in Tatarstan. Minnikhanov said that he is sure that new projects should be implemented based on their examples.

Tatarstan President thanked the foreign colleagues for their assistance in the opening of the Czech visa application center in the capital of Tatarstan, and the resumption of flights between Kazan and Prague.

"Much work has been done to strengthen our friendly relations. But this impacts the foreign trade turnover slightly. It is necessary to intensify work in the business sector. We have great prospects for cooperation in the field of mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, construction, petrochemical and oil refining," Minnikhanov said.

Thanking Minnikhanov for the reception, Michal Hašek said that South Moravian Region is interested in strengthening business relations with Tatarstan. "This is already our third meeting this year, which confirms the high level of relations between the two regions," he said.