On March 28, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Prague by special plane, starting his state visit to the Czech Republic.

When Xi Jinping's special plane entered the Czech Republic's airspace, two Gripen fighter jets of the Czech Republic took off and escorted the plane. At about 2:00 pm local time, the special plane arrived at the Prague Airport. Xi Jinping walked out of the cabin door and received a warm welcome from Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomír Zaorálek, the Presidential Office Head Vratislav Mynar of the Czech Republic and others.

Xi Jinping extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Czech people. Xi Jinping pointed out that the Chinese and the Czech people enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges. The Czech Republic has become China's important cooperative partner in Central and Eastern Europe, and good friend and good partner within the European Union (EU). At present, the development of bilateral relations is stepping on a fast track. The two countries vigorously develop exchanges and cooperation in various fields and conduct sound cooperation within the cooperation framework of China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), playing an important role in the development of the China-EU relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that it is my first time to visit a Central and Eastern European country as China's president, and also the first visit by the Chinese president to the Czech Republic since the two countries established diplomatic relationship 67 years ago. I expect to have extensive contacts and in-depth exchanges of views with President Milos Zeman and other leaders of the Czech Republic, deepen the traditional friendship between the two peoples, enhance the political mutual trust between the two countries, and expand practical cooperation through this visit, so as to lay a sound foundation for the future development of the China-Czech relations.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and other accompanying officials arrived by the same plane.

H.E. Ma Keqing, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, also came to greet them at the airport.

After his state visit to the Czech Republic, Xi Jinping will leave for Washington D.C. of the United States to attend the fourth Nuclear Security Summit.