The official visit of the president of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus to India reaffirms the excellent relations between India and the Czech Republic, and aims to further strengthen the trade cooperation between these two economically dynamic countries. It is a presidential visit after 11 years, but Mr. Klaus visited India as a Chief of the Parliament just 5 years ago. 

The Czech Republic and India have traditionally friendly ties – Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru visited the then Czechoslovakia in the 70īs, and the Czech Republic is in India spontaneously associated with world-famous brands like Skoda, Tatra or Zetor. The presidential visit is a landmark in current relationships, as it is the first since the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union in 2004.

President Klaus will meet the President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice-President of India Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Minister of External Affairs Shri Natwar Singh and the Leader of Opposition Shri L.K. Advani to discuss current issues in the international politics. The Czech Republic recognizes the importance of India as a democratic nation in the globalized world and supports its aspiration on United Nations Security Council seat. Both countries share the same view on the importance of the preservation of democratic values. The Czech Republic itself has a long democratic tradition since the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 till 1938 when Nazis and later Communist took the power. In 1990, it restored democracy, and in 1993, Czechoslovakia experienced a peaceful split into two independent states, the Czech and the Slovak Republic. The Indian and the Czech leaders will also discuss the importance of the fight against global terrorism, and of supporting human rights in the world.

President Klaus was an active participant in the changes in Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic, as he was present in top political position - Minister of Finance, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Parliament. In the position of the Prime Minister he was one of the key figures of the peaceful split of the Czechoslovakia. He is also said to be the father of the voucher privatization – process of returning the state property to private owners, and thus setting the roots for the current prosperity of the Czech Republic. His economical reforms gained much acclaim all over the world. He is well-known for his theoretical economical works, and is a distinctive visiter of major economical fora in many countries. In the recent years during the accession period of the Czech Republic to the European Union and after its accession, president Klaus excelled as an original and progressive thinker within the European integration framework. In his arguments he is consequently following the conservative and liberal values of the free market philosophy. He is an admirer of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. President Klaus will deliver a speech at the Liberty Institute in New Delhi on the topic "Dubious Attitudes of Western (Northern) Countries Vis-a-Vis Eastern (Southern) Countries".

The Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan will honor president Klaus with the Deshikotam Award for his activities in international politics and economics, in strengthening the Czech-Indian relations, and developing the modern Czech state. The Award on the Visva-Bharati University contains a strong symbolism, since the University founder the Nobel Peace prize winner Rabindranath Thakur had strong friendly ties with scholars from Czechoslovakia, and also came to visit Prague twice. Just one day after President Klaus' visit the retrospective of a leading Czech film director Vera Chytilova will be introduced within an international film festival in Kolkata.

President Klaus will be accompanied by a delegation comprising businessmen from leading Czech companies – mostly from energy, transport, engineering, finance, automotive and IT sectors – with a view to strengthen existing ties or explore ways to enter the Indian market. They are enthusiastic to discuss business with their counterparts via the FICCI and CII. The delegation will assist in the opening of a new assembly line for the Skoda Auto factory in Aurangabad. Skoda Auto is aiming to sell more than 10,000 cars in India only this year. Tatra factory visit is also at the program of the delegation. The Czech Republic and India are experiencing stable growth of GDP. Trade between the two countries tripled in last 4 years, and should reach 2,200 Crores INR by the end of this year. Czech companies are emerging as a major investor in energy and finance sector. The delegation intends to support trade in emerging markets, so will visit in Bangalore the flagships of the Indian Research and Development and IT industry – Infosys Technologies Ltd. (present in the Czech Republic already), NASSCOM and Indian Space Research Organisation.

The Czech Republic is present in India not only on the official or business level, but also in the human and cultural sphere. The Czech Republic feels its responsibility in the global world, and strengthens its development cooperation. The Czech Charity runs in India a program sponsoring children education since more than 10 years, and it supported untill now more than 13 000 children distributing more than 5 Crore INR last year. 2004, the former Czech president and a distinguished writer Vaclav Havel was awarded Gandhi Peace Prize, and delivered a speech on this occassion admiring the non-violence approach of Mahatma Gandhi, and stressed its significance even at present days in the whole world.