President Arroyo on Monday met with Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer “to fortify” the Philippines’ 36-year- old diplomatic ties with the Czech Republic, as well as its partnership with the European Union (EU).

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said Fischer’s two-day visit signaled his government’s commitment to further strengthen not only the political and economic but also the people-to-people relations between the two countries.

She said in Monday’s bilateral meeting, both leaders tackled ways to boost relations in international fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union.

The Czech Republic is holding the rotating EU presidency until June 30.

Earlier, Fischer bestowed medal awards on six Filipinos for exemplary contributions to the friendly relations between the Czech Republic and the Philippines.

The awardees were Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alberto Romulo, Sir Virgilio Esguerra, Supreme Commander of the Knights of Rizal; Prof. Consolacion Alaras, for promoting the ideas of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal and friend Ferdinand Blumentritt of then Czechoslovakia in her lectures in the University of the Philippines (UP); Irene Bernadette Gregorio, managing director of Czech Airlines, who is a half-Filipino and half-Czech citizen; former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Henrietta de Villa, for promoting the Sto. Niño de Praga and for being a symbol of religiosity; and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., for his human rights advocacy, particularly on Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and for the promotion of Czech Republic’s culture and tourism.

Except for Romulo, all five received the award during the welcome reception for the Prime Minister at a hotel last Sunday. Romulo was given his award on Monday morning.

The award, the Karel Kramar Award, is named after the Czech statesman Karel Kramar, who campaigned for Czechoslovakia’s independence before and during World War I. The six awardees were bestowed the medal award for their contributions to the Philippine – Czech Republic relations.

“I am extremely honored and pleased to give the medal … to distinguished Filipino personalities for their contribution to the friendship, cooperation, and mutual relations of our countries,” Fischer said.

“I would like to express on behalf of the Czech Republic government our high appreciation… by awarding the medal,” he said.

In a briefing, Presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said that during her meeting with Fischer, the President “would be interested in increasing the number of Filipinos in the Czech Republic.”

There are less than 800 Filipinos in the European country.

High on the agenda is the boosting of the US$151- millionbilateral trade, as well as the technology exchange between the two countries, particularly in the train systems.

“Our economic relation with the Czech Republic is small. But, after its economy moves out of recession, there will be transfer of technology,” Olivar said.