(I) REVIEW OF BILATERAL POLITICAL TIE

On October 4,1949 the Government of the Republic of Czechoslovakia formally recognized the People's Republic of China and on October 6, the two countries established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

In the early period since the establishment of diplomatic ties, relations between the two countries developed smoothly. In March 1953, Premier Zhou Enlai led a government delegation to participate in the funeral of President Klement Gottwald. Later on such state and party leaders as Zhu De, Peng Zhen, Li Xiannian, Dong Biwu, Peng Dehuai etc. Vistied Czechoslovakia respectively. In March 1957, Czechoslovakia President Villiam Siroky visited China as head of a government delegation. He signed with Zhou Enlai a "Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Czechoslovakia" Since then, the Czech National Assembly Speaker Zdenek Fierlinger visited China in September 1957 and the First Secretary of the Czechoslovakia Communist Party Central Committee and President Antonin Novotny visited China in September 1959. In May 1960, Chinese Ambassador to Czechoslovakia Cao Ying and the Czech Foreign Minister David signed a Sino- Czechoslovakia Consular Treaty in Prague. The two sides provided mutual support in matters concerning international affairs. Czechoslovakia supported the restoration of China's legitimate status in the United Nations, the liberation of Taiwan, opposition to the creation of "two Chinas", quelling of the rebellion in Tibet and the Statement of the Chinese Government concerning China's territorial waters. China supported the struggles of Czechoslovakia against West German militarism and revanchism.

Beginning from 1960, Czechoslovakia followed the footsteps of the Soviet Union and took steps that worsened the relations between the two countries: it cancelled the invitation extended to China's President and Premier to pay a visit to Czechoslovakia; in economy and trade, it chose not to appreciate the difficulties confronting China and made charges against it ; it attacked China in the Party press and Party Congresses; against it; it attacked China in the Party press and Party Congresses; it expelled Chinese journalists, staffs of Chinese Embassy Commercial Office and Chinese students and closed down office of the Chinese Xinhua News Agency; suspended Sino- Czechoslovakia maritime transport cooperation; placed restrictions on the scope of travel by personel of the Chinese Embassy etc.. China's policy towards Czechoslovakia was also interfered with during the "cultural revolution" and there were lack of consideration in the actual conduct of such policy. In 1967, China severed all relations with the Czechoslovakia Communist Party.

In August 1968, Soviet troops invaded and occupied Czechoslovakia an incident which is well known as the "Prague Spring". China provided an resolute support to the Czech people in their resistance.

As Sino-Soviet relations gradually relaxed in 1969, China's relations with Czechoslovakia also began to be restored gradually. In June 1971 after four years of absence, China again dispatched its Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (Prague's Ambassador to China did not suspend his assumption of office). In October, the Czechoslovakia representative in the UN voted in favor of restoring China's legitimate seat in the United Nations.

As China and the Soviet Union began to initiate consultations in October 1982, Sino- Czechoslovakia relations were also further improved. Particularly in 1983 after China reaffirmed it's acknowledgement that Czechoslovakia was a socialist state, relations between the two countries were completely normalized. In September 1983 Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian met with the Czech Foreign Minister at the UN General Assembly. In June 1985, Czechoslovakia Vice-Premier and Minister of Planning Svatopluk Potac visited China. In December, Premier Li Peng visited Czechoslovakia.

In 1986, Sino-Czech relations showed positive signs of change. The Czechoslovak Federal Assembly Deputy Speaker Kudera and the First Deputy Premier Rudolf Rohlicek visited China consecutively. Chinese NPC Standing Committee Vice-Chairman Liao Hansheng and CPPCC Vice-Chairman Cheng Zhihua visited Czechoslovakia respectively. In December the same year, a Chinese CPC Central Committee Liaison Department Delegation led by it Deputy Head Li Shuzheng visited Czechoslovakia and from then on the two Parties relations were gradually restored. In December, Czech Foreign Minister Bohuslav Chnoupek paid an official visit to China, the first by a Czech foreign minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In March 1987, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian visited Czechoslovakia, the first official visit to Czechoslovakia by a Chinese foreign minister since the two countries set up diplomatic ties. The two sides signed a protocol on cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries and exchange instruments on the setting up of Consulates General in Shagnhai and Bratislava by the two countries respectively. In April 1987, Czechoslovak Premier Lubomir Strougal paid a visit to China. In June, Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council Zhao Ziyang visited Czechoslovakia, the first formal and friendly visit by a Chinese Party and Government leader. The mutual visits of Strougal and Zhao Ziyang is an indication that Sino- Czechoslovak relations have attained comprehensive normalization.

In May 1988, General Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party Mils Jake led an official goodwill mission to China. In September, Czechoslovakia President Gustav Husak paid an official and friendly visit to China, the first by a Czech president in 29 years. On September 5, the two countries' foreign ministers Qian Qichen and Chnoupek signed a "China- Czechoslovakia Consular Treaty". In October, Vice-Premier Yao Yilin visited Czechoslovakia. In the late spring and early summer of 1989, a political turmoil occurred in China and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia summoned the Chinese Ambassador in Prague expressing support on the measures taken by the Chinese Government. In July 1989, the Czech Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Economic Planning Commission Zak and later on the Foreign Minister Jaromir Joganes visited China.

In November 1989, a dramatic change occurred in the Czech political scene and fundamental changes took place in its foreign policies. Its relations with China were estranged for a while and it began to have frictions with China on the question of Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

In February 1990, the Czech president Vaclav Havel invited the Dalai Lama to visit Czechoslovakia in his "Private capacity". In March, Havel met with elements of the so-called "Democracy Front" Liu Binyan, Shen Tong and sent message of greetings to the broadcast ship "Goddess of Democracy". In April during a meeting of the Heads of States of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, Havel attacked the measures taken by the Chinese government in quelling the 1989 political upheaval as "bloody suppression". The Chinese side has made solemn presentation with regard to the above practices of the Czech side.

Czechoslovakia maintains contact with Taiwan. In July and August,1990 Taiwan's "deputy-foreign minister" visited Czechoslovakia. In December, the wife of the Czechoslovak president visited Taiwan and was met by Li Teng Hui etc.. In May 1991, the Czech authority gave its consent to Taiwan to establish a "trade and cultural office of Taibei" in Czechoslovakia.

In September 1991, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen paid an official visit to Czechoslovakia and in December the Czechoslovak Premier Marian Calfa paid an official visit to China.

On December 31,1992 the Federal Republic of Czechoslovakia disintegrated and become independent states. The Chinese government decided that beginning from January 1,1993 it will recognize Czech and Slovak as two independent republics and establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with them.

(II) Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations and Economic and Technological Cooperation

Sino- Czechoslovak economic and trade relations developed rather early. In the early 1930s, Czechoslovakia began to export to China complete sets of equipments on beer brewery and sugar press. After the two countries established diplomatic ties, economic cooperation began to develop in a comprehensive manner. In 1950, China signed the first trade agreement with Czechoslovakia. During the 1960s when bilateral relations deteriorated, economic cooperation was suspended for a while. In the 1970s trade was resumed and even developed to some extent. In 1973 both sides signed the protocol on barter trade and method of settlement. After the mid-eighties bilateral relations were gradually normalized and economic cooperation was restored and boosted further. In July 1984, the two sides set up a commission for cooperation in economy, technology, trade and science, and also signed a ten year agreement on cooperation in economy and technology. In August 1985, both sides signed a contract in which Czechoslovakia will provide two sets of power generators, each with a capacity of 500,000 kilowatts and to be officially commissioned in 1994. In 1987, both sides signed an agreement on the prevention of double taxation and tax evasion. In 1988, the two sides signed an agreement on the basic orientation on long-term economic, scientific and technological cooperation. In 1989 the trade volume of the two countries stood at US$910 million, a record high in history. Beginning from 1991, bilateral trade changed from accounting method into hard currency cash payment. After a period of serious dip, the trade volume became stable gradually but the volume is still rather small.

(III) Bilateral contacts and cooperation in culture, science and technology an education

In December 1950, a Czechoslovak Cultural Delegation visited China, unfurling the curtain of cultural exchanges between the two countries. In May 1952, the first agreement on cultural cooperation was signed. In March 1957, a new cultural agreement was concluded which continues to be effective until this day. When Sino-Soviet relations turned sour, Czechoslovakia followed the Soviet Union in opposing China. During the 60s and 70s cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries were bleak. Beginning from the early 1980s cultural relations were gradually resumed and developed to a new stage. In 1987 and 1988 the two countries' cultural exchanges reached its zenith and the momentum only came to a sudden hault due to the dramatic changes in Czechoslovakia at the end of 1989.

A Sino- Czechoslovak Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation was signed in May 1952. This was the first government Scientific and Technological Cooperative Agreement signed by New China with a foreign government. From 1969 to 1972, scientific and technology cooperation was suspended for a period due to the deterioration of bilateral relations. From 1973 to 1980 cooperation was resumed but was always on a very low level. During the 80s as bilateral relations began to improve and grow, cooperation in science and technology also began to grow steadily and cooperative projects began to multiply. The Czech side transfer to China such technologies as jet looms and manufacture of heavy trucks. In May 1986, State Councillor and Minister of State Planning Commission Song Jian visited Czechoslovakia. So far the Joint Commission on Cooperation in Science and Technology Between China and Czechoslovakia has held 34 sessions.

Cooperation in the field of education between China and Czechoslovakia began in the early 1950s. Both sides dispatched large number of students to study in each other's country. Educational exchanges were suspended for a while during the 60s when bilateral relations were at its low ebb and only to be restored when the ties between the two countries were improved. Educational exchanges were resumed in 1984 and cooperation was initiated in accordance with the two countries' cultural agreement on cooperation. From 1983 to 1992, more than 70 government sponsored students were sent to study in Czechoslovakia and in turn the Czech side sent 104 students to study I China. Beginning from 1987, the Chinese side began to send one Chinese language teacher to the Charles University in Czechoslovakia and the Czech side send every year one Czech language teacher to the Beijing University of foreign Languages. Besides, there are four Chinese Institutions of higher learning which have established inter-university cooperation with three universities in Czechoslovakia.