Press Advisories
26. 3. 201819:01
Premier Babiš met with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan
On Monday, 26 March 2018, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš met with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. At their meeting in the Straka Academy, they spoke about celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia, investment in sectors with a high added value and about the role of the US in international trade.
Premier Andrej Babiš appreciated the good Czech-American relations, in particular the improved inter-parliamentary cooperation that is evidenced by the visit of Paul Ryan in the Czech Republic. He also expressed his hope that the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia would serve as a good impulse for further intensification of the Czech-American cooperation.
With the Speaker of the House of Representatives Ryan, Premier Babiš also discussed economic, trade and scientific cooperation, mainly the possible complications caused by the unilateral duty imposed on imports of aluminium and steel into the US. The European Union states are covered by a temporary exemption until 1 May.
The Czech Republic will continue to make efforts to attract US investment in sectors with a high added value and to deepen cooperation in the area of science, innovation and energy, but also it would like to enhance the opportunities of Czech students to take part in exchange visits at American universities.
Another theme was the security and defence cooperation where Premier Babiš spoke with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Ryan about the significant participation of the Czech Republic in foreign missions under the NATO flag.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives arrived in the Czech Republic upon invitation of the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament. On Tuesday, 27 March, Ryan will address the Chamber of Deputies and then will give a speech in the Senate at the conference "The role of the US in European security architecture - 100 years after", organised by the Association for International Affairs in cooperation with the US Embassy in the Czech Republic and the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, under the auspices of the President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament, Milan Štěch, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Martin Stropnický. In the Senate, he will also debate with students.