President discusses economic diplomacy with ministers and advisors

The Czech president, Milos Zeman, has held discussions on foreign policy and economic diplomacy with advisors and cabinet members at his Lány retreat near Prague. Among those who attended Saturday’s meetings were the minister of foreign affairs, Lubomír Zaorálek, his predecessor, diplomat Jan Kohout, and industry and trade minister Jan Mládek. Mr. Zaorálek and Mr. Mládek informed the president about planned changes aimed at boosting Czech exports and attracting foreign investors. On Wednesday Mr. Zeman said he was dissatisfied with Czech economic diplomacy, saying the country should do business with states accused of having poor human rights records. Mr. Zaorálek said the president’s criticism was justified as the previous government’s economic diplomacy had been “unreadable”.