Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman at his residence in Lany outside Prague. Zeman is hosting a banquet for the Chinese president.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Czech President Milos Zeman at the Lany presidential chateau in central Bohemia, Czech Republic, March 28, 2016. Xi started a three-day state visit to the Czech Republic from Monday, the first state visit by a Chinese president in 67 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties. [Xinhua]

Xi is the first foreign dignitary hosted by Zeman at his presidential residence. Xi and Zeman have met four times over a short span of two years. Zeman attended a massive military parade in Beijing last September to mark the end of World War Two.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L front) and Czech President Milos Zeman (R front) plant a a ginkgo biloba tree sapling from China before their meeting at the Lany presidential chateau in central Bohemia, Czech Republic, March 28, 2016. [Xinhua]

The Czech president is seeking to build a strategic relationship with Beijing.