The Czech Republic is looking to strengthen trade and economic ties with Taiwan. That was the word from the Czech parliament’s lower chamber speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová on Monday. She arrived in Taiwan on Saturday with a delegation of more than 150 people.
Adamová says Taiwan and Czechia have been partners for a long time, not only in trade, but also in their shared democratic values. Her delegation consists of government officials, academics, and business leaders.
The group arrived just a day before Honduras cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, in favor of China. Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua (王美花) says the Czech delegation’s timing is unrelated to Honduras’s diplomatic shift, but she adds that the visit shows Taiwan has many friends to collaborate with.
Wang also says the US-China trade war is changing the global supply chain, and Taiwan is willing to work with European partners like Czechia to ease trade issues. She adds that the Czech Republic’s location, industrial development, and professional talent make it an ideal partner.
The minister says Taiwan also plans to increase investments in areas that Czechia values like semiconductors and electric cars. She adds that Taiwan will implement related courses, scholarships, and research development opportunities so the two countries can work more closely together.