Zeman: The Chinese are interested in investments in Kyselka Spa

Zeman had previously mentioned the interest of Chinese investors in spa services and cultural monuments, but he had not been specific so far. "Until the relevant agreement is signed, we cannot even hint. However, I can say that CEFC is considering investment in Kyselka spa. But whether this consideration will lead to them adding spas to their repertoire, I cannot guarantee. It depends on whether they come to see the state of the place and whether their willingness remains or not," said Zeman.

The information about the interest of Chinese investors surprised Vladimír Lažanský, the chairman of the board of the non-profit organization Kyselka Spa, which is trying to save the valuable heritage block of houses in Kyselka.

"I was a bit surprised because our goal is to preserve Kyselka Spa as a heritage site. We cannot imagine that Kyselka Spa would become a development project or something that would serve business purposes. We want to repair it sensitively and give it some meaning. To make it a tourist destination, to partially turn it into a museum, to renovate the restaurant. And we would also like to keep it. I promote the motto: Once a non-profit organization, always a non-profit organization," he told ČTK today.

The Kyselka Spa is being renovated by the non-profit organization Kyselka Spa with the help of subsidies from the Ministry of Culture, the Karlovy Vary region, and sponsors, primarily from Karlovy Vary Mineral Waters, which also transferred properties the company owned to the non-profit organization. However, the condition of the former spa facilities was already on the brink of devastation, and their rescue is progressing slowly.

Recently, CEFC acquired, for example, 60 percent of the football club Slavia Praha, a stake in the airline Travel Service, and shares in the Pivovary Lobkowicz Group, as well as investments in media groups Médea Group and Empresa Media, and in real estate.

The Chinese company CEFC China Energy Company Limited primarily operates in the fields of finance, energy, and industry. It was founded in the early 1980s and is now the largest private company in Shanghai and the sixth largest private company in China.