The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to China Libor Secka. Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

A snapshot of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.Photo: CFP

The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to China Libor Secka has been in his post for more than five years. As one of the few heads of missions who loves art, he has been dedicated to bridging a bilateral cultural interaction throughout his tenure by hosting EmbassyArt, an art activity series in and outside of the embassy. Recently, the Global Times (GT) set up an interview with him, during which he unveiled to us his perspective on using art as the link between nations.

GT: Can you tell us about EmbassyArt?

Secka: We have a special program called EmbassyArt, where we have more than 20 exhibitions at the embassy and also in a few local museums. We have been doing exhibitions for more than four years. I believe that culture and art are the windows of opportunity for both countries to know each other better. We have been expanding this program by setting up cooperation with the 798 Art Zone and holding art-related activities in several Chinese cities. We would like to have this program go beyond the embassy's walls.

GT: Why did the Czech Embassy choose art as an interactive element?

Secka: There are two reasons. First, I like art and have a lot of friends who are Chinese and Czech artists. I have been in China for more than five years. I like contemporary art, and it is an important part of my life. If I am tired, I go to see some art exhibition to gain refreshment. I personally like to write and used to write poems.

Now, I am writing the introductions for each exhibition held by our embassy. Art makes our life better and it gives us the inspiration, so I would like to get more people together and open their minds in a way that promotes the interaction and understanding between the people of the two countries.

GT: How do you decide what exhibitions will be hosted by the embassy?

Secka: The standards can be very different. I have tried to find something new, and I admit it's not easy to find a new way to do it every single time. I am trying to combine different styles and mediums of art, including sculpture, painting, performance and music.

GT: Apart from establishing cultural interaction, what else do you want to achieve during your tenure?

Secka: We have achieved a lot of things already. The political dialogue between the two countries is now at its highest level. During our last presidential visit [to China], we signed 21 documents.

Currently, we still do not have direct flights between the Czech Republic and China, but we would like to make it possible in 2015. Also, in terms of visas, we have made a lot of improvements.

We issued about 16,000 visas for Chinese people to visit the Czech Republic each year, and we can do much more than that.