On the occasion of Constitution Day of the Republic of Poland, I am honored to extend my warmest greetings and deep respect to the Taiwanese people.
Each year on May 3, Poland commemorates a landmark moment in our national history: the adoption of the constitution of May 3, 1791, by the parliament of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This visionary act not only marked Europe’s first and the world’s second modern written constitution, but also enshrined principles of governance that resonate powerfully with the democratic ideals all of us should continue to uphold and defend.
In this spirit, today we must also unequivocally reaffirm the importance of international efforts to end devastating and cruel aggression against Ukraine. The final resolution must be rooted in the principles of inviolability of borders, respect for national sovereignty and international law. We cannot allow the violence to prevail, nor can we accept the demands of the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Polish non-governmental organizations such as the Polish Center for International Aid continue to work together with their Taiwanese partners to provide support to Ukrainian civilian victims.
Amidst global tensions, Poland’s economy, just like Taiwan’s, continues to grow. We note an increasing number of exchanges between Polish and Taiwanese businesses within the framework of frequent economic dialogues and visits. Taiwan in December last year hosted the 12th annual Polish-Taiwanese Economic Consultations and welcomed a delegation of Polish parliamentarians with the notable presence of Deputy Speaker of the Senate Michal Kaminski.
Recently, the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association announced its intention to support an initiative to create a so-called ICT triangle — an area spanning three Polish cities: Wroclaw, Katowice and Lodz.
Our expanding partnerships now encompass cooperation in the fields of hydrogen technologies, semiconductors and chemical engineering, to name just a few industries. Among the milestones, we can highlight the establishment of the code-share flight between Taipei and Warsaw, symbolizing the growth of our exchanges, which we expect will, in the near future, transform into a direct connection.
The deepening ties between Poland and Taiwan can be characterized not only by increasing exchanges across the spectrum of economic affairs, but also across cultural and municipal domains. Notably, Poland was the first-ever national partner of Taiwan Design Week, as the sign of recognition of the excellence of Polish graphic design and potential for cooperation in this field.
In the realm of music, Taiwan welcomed one of Poland’s most acclaimed jazz artists, Anna Maria Jopek, for a successful four-concert tour, and, as it has already become a Taipei tradition, every November we organize the outdoor Chopin Recital at Daan Park, an event that has gained significant popularity among Taiwanese multigenerational audiences. Beginning this year, the Polish Office is to organize jazz and classical music concerts as well as exhibitions, and Polish cultural pavilions in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County.
This year features as especially significant in the world of classical music as we prepare for the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, to be held this autumn in Warsaw. Among the 171 participants from 28 countries, we are delighted to welcome four talented Taiwanese pianists, to whom we extend our best wishes of success on their artistic journey in Poland.
Polish-Taiwanese municipal cooperation has entered a true renaissance. New and flourishing relationships have joined cities and counties such as Gdynia and Kaohsiung, Poznan and Kaohsiung, both Lodz and Lublin with Tainan, and Pingtung with Bialstok. These new achievements build upon other longstanding partnerships, such as the one between Taipei and Warsaw, which this year marks its 30th anniversary.
Given the growing number of city-to-city exchanges between our municipalities, we are proud to highlight that Poland is currently the European leader in such relationships with Taiwanese cities.
As we look to the future, we do so with optimism, confident that there remains much more to achieve together. As the bonds between the economic growth champions in Asia and Europe continue to deepen, let us build new bridges, not only of trade and culture, but of shared vision and enduring friendship.
Cyryl Kozaczewski is director of the Polish Office in Taipei.
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