Over 100 guests rose to their feet with glasses in hand last Tuesday night to wish the Czech Republic a happy 15th birthday as the east European country celebrated its national day in Taipei.
Hosted by the Czech Economic and Trade Office in Taipei (CETO), guests from all embassies, representative offices, ranking government officials, media personnel and individuals from the private sector expressed their good wishes to the young democracy.
PHOTO: JENNY W. HSU, TAIPEI TIMES
In his address, Representative Jaroslav Dolecek referred to some unfortunate events that took place in the past, but pointed out that after 40 years of totalitarian rule, the people of the Czech Republic now live in a “free and smoothly functioning democratic society.”
“We have enjoyed rapid growth in exports, a strong inflow of foreign capital and relatively low unemployment,” he said.
“In the first half of next year, the Czech Republic will face another test of its capability — for we will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Five years after we became an EU member state, we have been given the chance to prove our potential and to make our mark as an important and trustworthy partner on the international scene,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Hou (侯清山) added that like the Czech Republic, Taiwan has a history of fighting communism.
“Taiwanese also have experience fighting communism and pursuing democracy and freedom. Therefore we share in the joy felt over your country’s joining the European Union and the Schengen treaty. Next year the Czech Republic will hold the EU presidency, which I suppose is a dream come true for you. Becoming more involved in the international community is a dream of our own as well,” Hou said.
In the last four years, CETO issued an average 24,000 tourist visas to Taiwanese nationals. There are approximately 50 Czech nationals living in Taiwan.
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