CZECH, MALAYSIA AGREE TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- The Czech Republic and Malaysia have agreed
to strengthen bilateral cooperation in higher education, tourism, trade,
investment and defence.

The agreement was reached during the visit of the republic's First Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Helena Bambasova to Malaysia since Wednesday,
according to a statement from Wisma Putra Friday.

The statement said Malaysia enjoyed warm bilateral ties with the Czech Republic
with bilateral trade amounting to RM806.6 million in 2009.

On Thursday, Bambasova met with Malaysia's Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot
Jaen to view the state of bilateral relations between the two countries, and
held bilateral consultations and exchanged views on a number of regional and
international issues.

They also touched on the proposed visit by the Czech Republic Foreign Minister
in 2011 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.

Bambasova's visit will end Saturday.
-- BERNAMA