Czech foreign minister regrets China’s cancellation of trip by agriculture minister

Czech foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek has expressed his unhappiness at the Chinese move to cancel the visit of Czech Minister of Agriculture Marian Jurečka to China. He said that the matter would be broached by deputy minister Martin Tlapa in a meeting with the Chinese ambassador to the Czech Republic on Thursday which had already been scheduled. Mr. Zaorálek said the agriculture mission which Christian Democrat minister Jurečka was supposed to head was aimed at helping to redress the massive trade imbalance between the country and China. Minister Jurečka has been an outspoken backer of fellow Christian Democrat minister Daniel Herman, who has come under fire from Mr. Zaorálek in particular over whether he broke a pledge from government ministers over meetings with Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.