President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says she hopes for Taiwan and the Czech Republic to strengthen relations. Tsai was speaking after her phone call to congratulate the newly elected Czech president, Petr Pavel, on Monday.
During the phone call, Pavel suggested an in-person meeting between the two presidents. Taiwan’s foreign ministry says it will do all it can to make the meeting possible.
President Tsai affirms that Pavel will continue the spirit of the late Czech President Václav Havel, who believed in democracy, freedom and human rights. She says she hopes that under Pavel’s leadership the Czech Republic will continue to work with Taiwan to promote a close partnership.
The president also says the two countries are actively promoting cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, science and technology, education, culture, and tourism. She says Taiwan is also willing to deepen cooperation with Czechia in areas such as semiconductor design, training talents in cutting-edge technologies, and restructuring the global supply chain.
Tsai says she will encourage Taiwanese companies to use the Czech Republic as an important base in Central and Eastern Europe to deepen economic and trade exchanges.
Meanwhile, Pavel says Czechia stands firm with Taiwan on democracy and supports Taiwan’s efforts to free itself from the threat of authoritarianism.
Taiwan and the Czech Republic have been strengthening their ties since Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil visited Taiwan in 2020. Vystrčil was the first legislator from a non-diplomatic ally to address Taiwan's legislature.