Dear visitors, It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to Czech Days in Shanghai, an event showcasing the Czech Republic in general and four of its regions in particular, one of them being the Pilsen Region. The Czech Republic is without any doubt an attractive tourist destination. Let me highlight one of its regions: the Pilsen Region, which can proudly declare it was dubbed the Best Place to Live in the Czech Republic in 2014. I would be delighted if our region caught your attention not only as a tourist hotspot with many sights, historical buildings and beautiful nature, but also as an industrially advanced region offering investment opportunities and further growth. The Pilsen Region has a long industrial and manufacturing history, its powerhouse being the city of Pilsen, which contributes to the region's economy by 60%. Several big businesses call our region their home: Škoda, the manufacturer of rail and other public transportation vehicles, Pilsner Urquell, the producer of the original Pilsen beer, or Bohemia Sekt, the traditional sparkling wine maker located in the town of Starý Plzenec. Our University of West Bohemia, besides being an educational institution, focuses its activities on the research and development of modern technologies. The city of Pilsen is the 2015 European Capital of Culture, which can be seen throughout the entire region. One of the events interconnecting Pilsen and other towns in the region is Nine Weeks of Baroque, a festival which brings to life baroque sights across the region. Historical sights and buildings, galleries, museums as well as film, music and arts festivals—being the European Capital of Culture means all of this. The Pilsen Region is a magnificent place to live with many opportunities: culture, entertainment, delicious food and drinks, business and studies. Let me invite you to discover what the Pilsen Region can offer to China and specifically to Shanghai.