President Milos Zeman sought on Sunday to defuse a row with China over a visit by the head of the Czech Senate to Taiwan, calling the speaker`s trip a "boyish provocation".

Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil grabbed headlines last week when he told Taiwan`s parliament "I am a Taiwanese" in a speech that echoed the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy`s defiance of communism in Berlin in 1963.

Vystrcil`s trip did not have the backing of the Czech government, which sets foreign policy, and angered China, which said the Czech speaker would "pay a heavy price" for visiting the democratic island it sees as its own territory.

This prompted Prague to summon China`s ambassador.

Zeman has sought closer business and political ties with China since taking office in 2013, but his efforts have been hit by failed investment plans and have divided politicians.

Zeman said in an interview on broadcaster Prima on Sunday he would stop inviting Vystrcil to meetings of the state`s top foreign policy officials and said his trip could be damaging for firms but that China`s comments were exaggerated.

"I consider it boyish provocation," Zeman said of the trip.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said later on the same debate show he would fight to prevent fallout for Czech companies.

The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan although Taiwan is a large investor in the country.

Many Czech companies operate in or export to China, the world`s second-largest economy. The richest Czech Petr Kellner`s Home Credit is a major consumer lender in China while the country is also the largest single market for Skoda Auto, the Czech car unit of Volkswagen.

President Milos Zeman sought on Sunday to defuse a row with China over a visit by the head of the Czech Senate to Taiwan, calling the speaker`s trip a "boyish provocation".

President Milos Zeman sought on Sunday to defuse a row with China over a visit by the head of the Czech Senate to Taiwan, calling the speaker`s trip a "boyish provocation". Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil grabbed headlines last week when he told Taiwan`s parliament "I am a Taiwanese" in a speech that echoed the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy`s defiance of communism in Berlin in 1963. Vystrcil`s trip did not have the backing of the Czech government, which sets foreign policy, and angered China, which said the Czech speaker would "pay a heavy price" for visiting the democratic island it sees as its own territory. This prompted Prague to summon China`s ambassador. Zeman has sought closer business and political ties with China since taking office in 2013, but his efforts have been hit by failed investment plans and have divided politicians. Zeman said in an interview on broadcaster Prima on Sunday he would stop inviting Vystrcil to meetings of the state`s top foreign policy officials and said his trip could be damaging for firms but that China`s comments were exaggerated. "I consider it boyish provocation," Zeman said of the trip. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said later on the same debate show he would fight to prevent fallout for Czech companies. The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan although Taiwan is a large investor in the country. Many Czech companies operate in or export to China, the world`s second-largest economy. The richest Czech Petr Kellner`s Home Credit is a major consumer lender in China while the country is also the largest single market for Skoda Auto, the Czech car unit of Volkswagen.

Czech president tries to tamp down China anger after speaker's Taiwan trip

Incumbent east-looking Milos Zeman won the first round of the Czech Republic&#39;s presidential election on Saturday but runner-up Jiri Drahos may pose a strong challenge in the second round in two weeks, nearly complete results showed.

Zeman&#39;s inclination towards far-right groups and his warm relations with Russia and China have split public opinion, with a sizeable chunk of the electorate favouring pro-western candidates, including 68-year-old academic Drahos.

Czech presidents have limited executive powers but Zeman and his predecessors have had a strong influence on public debate. They are also pivotal in forming governments -- which the European Union and NATO member country is now trying to do.

With votes from 97.6 percent of districts counted, Zeman led the race with 39.0 percent of votes, while Drahos had won 26.4 percent.&nbsp;

That means a run-off needs to be held. Several candidates running on platforms similar to Drahos scored high single-digit results and some of their voters may throw their support behind Drahos rather than Zeman in the Jan. 26-27 run-off.

&quot;This looks hopeful,&quot; Drahos told supporters and reporters at a Prague theatre after most results had come in. &quot;By far the toughest game now awaits against Milos Zeman and his advisers...Come to vote, come to vote, come to vote.&quot;

The vote is seen as a referendum on the 73-year-old Zeman, in office since 2013, who has criticised migration from Muslim countries and Germany&#39;s decision to accept many migrants.

A win by the soft-spoken, grey-haired chemical engineer Drahos could mean voices from the Czech leadership may shift closer to the EU mainstream.

&quot;I voted for professor Drahos because I want that someone who will not push us to the East and who will not be a disgrace,&quot; said lawyer Matej Gredl, 30, after he voted in Prague.&nbsp;

The outcome may also influence Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis&#39;s chances of forming a cabinet. His first attempt to rule in a minority administration is likely to be rejected by parliament next week.

Zeman has backed Babis and said he would give him another chance even though the billionaire businessman has struggled to get support from other parties while he battles police allegations that he illegally obtained EU subsidies a decade ago. Babis denies wrongdoing.

Policy shift

A former centre-left prime minister and backer of a federal Europe, Zeman has gradually shifted to positions criticising the EU, echoing and reinforcing public sentiment.

He has won endorsements from some mainstream groups as well as the Communist Party and the main far-right anti-EU and anti-NATO SPD party.

The Czech Republic has a tiny Muslim minority and has seen few of the hundreds of thousands of people coming to Europe in the past years to seek safety from war or a better life. Like Slovakia and Hungary, the Czechs have clashed with the European Commission over their refusal to accept migrants under quotas set by a vote by EU leaders.

Zeman has sought more trade and closer ties with China and has warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for the removal of EU sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine&#39;s Crimea to boost business.

&quot;If Zeman stays, it will bode well for the companies that he promotes, which have business interests in China and Russia,&quot; said Pavel Saradin, a political scientist at Palacky University.

He has strong support mainly in the countryside of the nation of 10.6 million people, and often snipes at Prague elites and the media.

&quot;The polarisation of society has deepened in the past months,&quot; Saradin said. &quot;Data also show a deepening rift between cities and the countryside.&quot;

Zeman's inclination towards far-right groups and his warm relations with Russia and China have split public opinion

Incumbent east-looking Milos Zeman won the first round of the Czech Republic's presidential election on Saturday but runner-up Jiri Drahos may pose a strong challenge in the second round in two weeks, nearly complete results showed. Zeman's inclination towards far-right groups and his warm relations with Russia and China have split public opinion, with a sizeable chunk of the electorate favouring pro-western candidates, including 68-year-old academic Drahos. Czech presidents have limited executive powers but Zeman and his predecessors have had a strong influence on public debate. They are also pivotal in forming governments -- which the European Union and NATO member country is now trying to do. With votes from 97.6 percent of districts counted, Zeman led the race with 39.0 percent of votes, while Drahos had won 26.4 percent. That means a run-off needs to be held. Several candidates running on platforms similar to Drahos scored high single-digit results and some of their voters may throw their support behind Drahos rather than Zeman in the Jan. 26-27 run-off. "This looks hopeful," Drahos told supporters and reporters at a Prague theatre after most results had come in. "By far the toughest game now awaits against Milos Zeman and his advisers...Come to vote, come to vote, come to vote." The vote is seen as a referendum on the 73-year-old Zeman, in office since 2013, who has criticised migration from Muslim countries and Germany's decision to accept many migrants. A win by the soft-spoken, grey-haired chemical engineer Drahos could mean voices from the Czech leadership may shift closer to the EU mainstream. "I voted for professor Drahos because I want that someone who will not push us to the East and who will not be a disgrace," said lawyer Matej Gredl, 30, after he voted in Prague. The outcome may also influence Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis's chances of forming a cabinet. His first attempt to rule in a minority administration is likely to be rejected by parliament next week. Zeman has backed Babis and said he would give him another chance even though the billionaire businessman has struggled to get support from other parties while he battles police allegations that he illegally obtained EU subsidies a decade ago. Babis denies wrongdoing. Policy shift A former centre-left prime minister and backer of a federal Europe, Zeman has gradually shifted to positions criticising the EU, echoing and reinforcing public sentiment. He has won endorsements from some mainstream groups as well as the Communist Party and the main far-right anti-EU and anti-NATO SPD party. The Czech Republic has a tiny Muslim minority and has seen few of the hundreds of thousands of people coming to Europe in the past years to seek safety from war or a better life. Like Slovakia and Hungary, the Czechs have clashed with the European Commission over their refusal to accept migrants under quotas set by a vote by EU leaders. Zeman has sought more trade and closer ties with China and has warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for the removal of EU sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea to boost business. "If Zeman stays, it will bode well for the companies that he promotes, which have business interests in China and Russia," said Pavel Saradin, a political scientist at Palacky University. He has strong support mainly in the countryside of the nation of 10.6 million people, and often snipes at Prague elites and the media. "The polarisation of society has deepened in the past months," Saradin said. "Data also show a deepening rift between cities and the countryside."

Czech presidential vote sets up Zeman-Drahos second round clash

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Czech president tries to tamp down China anger after speaker's Taiwan trip

Czech presidential vote sets up Zeman-Drahos second round clash