Former Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek addresses the Thematic Session on Think Tank Exchanges of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, May 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

It is amazing that China could grow into the world's second largest eocnomy in such a short time, said Jaromir Slapota, head of a Czech think tank.

PRAGUE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Jiri Paroubek hailed here Monday China's achievements in the past 70 years.

China's achievement is not only reflected in the growth of its gross domestic product, but also in the improved living standards of Chinese people, Paroubek said at a Sino-Czech seminar on improving people-to-people connection between the two countries that was sponsored by the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, a think tank.

"It's a marvelous achievement to ensure all the 1.4 billion people could feed themselves," he added.

He also said that in the past years, more and more Chinese tourists visited the Czech Republic, noting that there are four direct air routes between the two countries.

Czech children learn how to make Jiaozi, or Chinese dumplings, during a Chinese Spring Festival party in Prague, capital of Czech, on Jan. 27, 2011. (Xinhua/Sun Xiyou)

"It's in the interests of Czech people to develop a good relationship with China," said Paroubek.

Jaromir Slapota, head of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, said Chinese people are diligent and it is amazing that China could grow into the world's second largest eocnomy in such a short time.

Xu Lvping, vice chairman of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, attributed the achievement of China's development to the fact that China has chosen a road that is fit for itself.

China is willing to share with the world its economic achievement, which is the original intention of the Belt and Road Initiative that is seeing growing support from a lot of countries, Xu said. ■