Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek will visit Japan and China on June 21-29, the Government Office announced on June 16.

The office said Paroubek will visit first Japan, where he will meet Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Paroubek will fly from Japan to China on June 26.

The last high-ranking Czech official to visit China was President Vaclav Klaus in 2004. The latest Czech prime minister who visited China is Prime Minister Milos Zeman, which was six years ago.

The current Czech-Chinese relations are characterized by mutual respect. Klaus's visit to China last year indicated a possible new development of bilateral relations.

Paroubek will be accompanied by a group of businessmen on his Asian trip.

Source: Xinhua