A delegation led by Czech Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova yesterday arrived for a five-day visit, which is expected to include the signing of a joint statement of legislative cooperation.
A signing ceremony for the statement — which would be the first the legislature has inked with the legislative body of a country with which Taiwan does not have official diplomatic ties — is expected to take place on Wednesday, sources said.
They added that Adamova is to address the legislature on Tuesday, which would also be the first time a female leader of a legislature of a country with no formal ties with Taiwan has done so.
Photo: CNA
The joint statement is to include an agreement to exchange administrative staff for training and formalize representative groups from the legislatures to visit each other, the sources said.
Based on the mutual recognition of the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights, the legislatures would also agree to foster collaborations across multiple fields to deepen Taiwan-Czech relations and to uphold the principles of democratic countries remaining united and friendly with each other, the sources said.
In addition to maintaining cordial relations, both sides would pledge to work together on the economy, science, technology, culture and education.
The legislatures are to agree to share information in fields that would be mutually beneficial, and both countries would trade know-how on national budget issues and matters such as the use of innovative communication technologies, the sources said.
In addition to providing opportunities for administrative staff from the legislatures to participate in exchange programs to learn from each other, the legislatures are to establish regular or intermittent group visits by lawmakers.
Legislative Speaker You Si-kun and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) greeted the delegation of nearly 150 members at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport).
Presidential Office spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka yesterday said the government welcomes the delegation, adding that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would meet with them tomorrow afternoon to exchange opinions on trade and industry collaboration.
Yu is to accompany Adamova on four out of the five days to highlight the importance Taiwan attaches to the visit, a source said.
The delegation includes Czech Chamber of Deputies Committee of Foreign Affairs Chairman Marek Zenisek, Committee on Safety Chairman Pavel Zacek, Czech-Taiwan Friendship Group Chairman Marek Benda and lawmaker Ivan Jac, as well as Czech senators Marek Vyborny and Ondrej Lochman.
The delegation also includes other Czech senators, government officials and representatives from government agencies.
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