Czech lawmakers cancel trip to China

The cancellation of Czech lawmakers' trip to China will perhaps not leave any stain on Czech-Chinese relations, Jan Birke (Social Democrats, CSSD), who was to head the delegation, told journalists on Tuesday. Birke said later today, he would meet representatives of the Chinese embassy to apologise for the cancellation of the planned unofficial trip. Since a number of its participants eventually refused to go, only three would remain. "I will apologise decently. It would be not only indecent towards the hosts, but also nonsense, if only three people were to go," Birke said. He said depending on the developments, he would consider whether to submit the planned journey again to the Chamber of Deputies organisational committee so that it could be held as an official trip.