Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen posthumously presented the Order of the Cojuelo to the late President of the Czech Senate, who accepted it on behalf of the President of the Czech Senate, Boris Vitich, on September 3.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen met with visiting Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil on Thursday (Sept. 3). Tsai affirmed the mutual support between democratic countries and looked forward to further cooperation between Taiwan and the Czech Republic in the industrial sector. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Czech Republic has been elevated to a new level of comprehensive partnership.”
On Thursday morning, in addition to posthumously presenting a medal to former Czech Senate President Jaroslav Kubera in recognition of the democratic values between the two countries, Tsai also acknowledged the achievements of the past few days, including the signing of three memorandums of understanding between Taiwan’s industry and Czech manufacturers, the evaluation by two Taiwan public banks of establishing a base in the Czech Republic, and the discussion by Taiwan’s China Airlines of a proposal for direct flights between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Tsai emphasized that these actions have brought Taiwan and the Czech Republic closer together. “Our actions are telling all our friends in Europe, and those around the world who share our beliefs, whether Taiwanese or Czechs, that we will not succumb to oppression, we will be brave enough to speak out, and we will actively participate in international affairs and contribute our capabilities,” she said.
At a press conference held by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Vitich pointed out three major achievements of the trip: first, the development of substantive bilateral relations, with the Czech delegation discussing potential cooperation opportunities with Taiwan in the areas of trade and investment, scientific research and education, and health care and epidemic prevention, which will be forwarded to the relevant authorities for follow-up upon the delegation’s return to the Czech Republic; second, ensuring the value of Czech sovereignty and independence and the importance of democratic freedoms; and third, strengthening the value that Taiwan and the Czech Republic share, as he has invited Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan President Yu Sik-kun to return to the Czech Republic.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Wu Zhao-xiet stressed at the press conference, “Such multi-level, multi-channel, multi-domain cooperation and exchanges show that the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic has been elevated to a new level of comprehensive cooperation and partnership.”
Wu added that more than 20 achievements were made during the exchange, including the signing of memorandums of cooperation between the Czech University of Chemical Engineering in Prague and three universities in Taiwan, the Prague Philharmonic’s scheduled tour to Taiwan next year, and the Taiwan government’s offer of 50 Chinese language scholarships to Czech students.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Vitech had stepped on China’s “red line.
Alice Rezkova, a researcher at the Czech think tank AMO (Association for International Affairs), said in a Voice of America TV interview that although the visit was much discussed politically, it should not be seen as a provocation to China. She believes that progress in business between the Czech Republic and Taiwan is more critical, and that the visit is a “level-up” in bilateral relations.
I myself don’t think we crossed any red lines, and we didn’t violate our agreement between the Czech Republic and China,” Vitecki said in a press conference when asked by the media. Each country has its own way of understanding the one-China principle.” He emphasized that Taiwan is a free and democratic country and that free and democratic countries can cooperate with each other.
A 2019 Czech-Taiwanese Business Chamber report, “Business Activities in the Czech Republic with Taiwan,” noted that as of 2018, Taiwan was the third largest investor in the Czech Republic from East Asia, after South Korea and Japan; Taiwanese companies are also the East Asian companies that provide the most jobs in the Czech Republic.
“The epidemic is limiting our lives, as well as our business operations, and the whole world is looking for new ways how to overcome the feeling of uncertainty.” Pavel Diviš, president of the Czech-Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, added at the press conference, “You (the Taiwanese government) have succeeded in creating a good environment for Czech and Taiwanese entrepreneurs to meet each other, to negotiate, and to achieve the kind of success that can be achieved in these complex times.”
However, Rudolf Fürst, head of the Centre for EU-Asia Relations at The Institute of International Relations Prague, said in an email that the Czech Republic and Taiwan have been “successful in creating a good environment for Czech and Taiwanese entrepreneurs to meet and negotiate. He told VOA that Vitech’s visit to Taipei was more of a political move, with the support of only one opposition party, and was not in line with the Czech Republic’s long-standing policy toward China. He said that such business meetings with very tight security measures are rare during an epidemic.
Czech Senate President Vitic will participate in a supply chain forum hosted by the American Institute in Taiwan on Friday, Taiwan time, and will return later that evening.
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