Dear exhibitors and participants of the CSITF Fair 2015 It is an extraordinary honour for all of us in the Czech Republic that our country has been approached by the Government of Shanghai and other organizers of the CSFIT 2015 Fair to participate in the 2015 year´s edition as the major foreign country. Within a short time that we had to ensure the Czech participation, the organizers on the Czech part represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry for Regional Development, Ministry of Foreign Aff airs through the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the PRC and the Czech China Chamber of Cooperation with the assistance and support of many other institutions and promoters jointly prepared one of the most important missions of the Czech Republic in our modern history, not only to China, but generally abroad. The delegation led by the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Mr. Jan Hamáček, composed of the government ministers of the Czech Republic Mr. Jan Mládek, Mr. Svatopluk Němec and Mrs. Karla Šlechtová, Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, governors of Czech regions and mayors of Czech towns, representatives of virtually all key ministries and institutions from the Czech Republic accompanied by dozens of exhibitors and hundreds of entrepreneurs, eff ectively demonstrates the importance that our country currently attaches to relations with the People´s Republic of China. In 2014, we commemorated the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, and this very rich year with a variety of activities within the Czech-Chinese cooperation was a real historic milestone as one of the most important, and I do not hesitate to say as one of the breakthrough in a long and positive history of our mutual cooperation. In result of extremely successful negotiations between the Presidents of the People‘s Republic of China and the Czech Republic in October last year in Beijing, the Czech participation in CSITF 2015 in Shanghai became one of the priority themes of the meeting of the Prime Ministers of the People‘s Republic of China and the Czech Republic in December 2014 in Belgrade. The Czech Republic is interested to introduce itself in Shanghai as a country with an extensive industrial tradition and modern and technologically advanced economy, as a prosperous, unencumbered, and at the same time, the second strongest economy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as a country attractive for tourists and culturally fascinating. As a country that has a lot to off er for China. It is further interested to introduce itself as a country that is prepared to off er the Chinese investors and entrepreneurs helpful, open, friendly and homely environment for their businesses in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe using all the advantages of its membership in the European Union. From the very beginning, the Czech Republic has been an active participant and, nowadays, even the informal leader of the cooperation platform between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, backed by the Prime Minister of the PRC and the Prime Ministers of the Governments of Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, we appreciate very much the initiative of the President of the PRC to create the economic and business zone along the ancient Silk Road, and our country is interested to become a part of it as an economic and technological gateway to our region. We are extremely pleased that, starting on 1 October 2015, a symbolic fi rst step by means of establishing direct air links between our both countries will be done. In terms of the Czech-Chinese cooperation, the last year was fabulous indeed, however, the history shows that every seemingly insurmountable result of human activities at the time can be further upgraded and improved. The National Mission of the Czech Republic in Shanghai therefore aims to establish a series of strategic and friendly relations in all areas of cooperation between our countries. Memoranda on Cooperation will be signed between Shanghai and the Capital City of Prague and between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Shanghai´s MOFCOM. A mutual cooperation between the Czech Republic and Shanghai will be offi cially inaugurated by showing an example of the advancement and use of the traditional Chinese medicine in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, or introducing a paediatric therapy project in the world famous Czech spa that is intended for the children from Shanghai. The Czech entrepreneurs have high technology systems and products, and their Chinese partners dispose of a strong fi nancial background and unique knowledge of the strongest and most important market in the world, and I believe that Shanghai will become a base for many unique business projects. On this occasion, I would also like to invite all Chinese guests to our home, the Czech Republic, be it during the June Health Ministers Meeting between China and Countries of Eastern and Central Europe, which also includes a panel of business cooperation in health, or in the course of the 6th Annual China Investment Forum 2015 in November to be taken place in the traditional seat of Czech Republic at Prague Castle. The venue of both events, which will be organized in accordance with the Guidelines for Cooperation of the Prime Ministers of China and the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe agreed in December 2014 in Belgrade, may be the perfect place for further deepening the cooperation and following the discussions commenced in Shanghai during the CSFIT 2015. In conclusion, let me cordially thank to our Chinese friends and partners, without whom our country‘s participation in the CSIFT 2015 Fair as well as the “Days of Czech Republic in Shanghai” could never happen. Special thanks and deep respect for their help and support, therefore, belong to the international department of the Central Committee of the CPC, the Shanghai Government and the Organizing Committee of the CSIFT Fair. Of course, our sincere thanks also go to the management of the CEFC Shanghai Company for their extraordinary friendship and cooperation provided.