Taiwanese and Czech officials gathered at the National Museum of the Czech Republic in Prague yesterday for the opening of a National Palace Museum (NPM) exhibition.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠), NPM director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) and a delegation of lawmakers led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) were joined by dignitaries of the Czech Republic, including Czech Chamber of Deputies President Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, Czech Senate First Vice President Jiri Drahos, Czech Deputy Minister of Culture David Kaspar, Czech Deputy Minister of the Environment Eduard Levy and Czech National Museum director General Michal Lukes at the 100 Treasures, 100 Stories exhibition opening at the Czech Republic’s National Museum.
A total of 131 iconic artifacts are being showcased from Thursday to Dec. 31, including one of the museum’s most popular items, the Jadeite Cabbage With Insects (翠玉白菜), and Along the River During the Qingming Festival (清明上河圖).
Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lukes said he had dreamed about one day displaying the national treasures of the NPM in the Czech Republic since he first visited the museum in Taipei in 2003.
After a 20-year wait, the jadeite cabbage has made its long-anticipated European debut, he said, adding that it is a milestone that reflects the “trusting relationship” between the two countries.
“The NPM would not lend their priceless treasures to untrue friends,” he said, thanking authorities and curators from both countries for helping realize the dream.
Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times
Adamova said she “had it complete” upon finally seeing the jadeite cabbage, having admired the Meat-Shaped Stone during a visit to Taiwan in 2023. She described the jade carving as “a really beautiful piece.”
“We have such great partners in Taiwan who trust us to care for these valuable works,” she added.
Hsiao said the exhibition was the result of close collaboration between the two countries that deepened Taiwan-Czech ties and reflected the mutual understanding shared by democratic societies.
Photo: CNA
The power of culture lies in its ability to cross language and geographical barriers, helping people understand each other and themselves, Hsiao said.
The Czech Republic, which does not formally recognize Taipei, has grown increasingly close to Taiwan, seeing parallels between the threat Europe faces from Russia and the threat Taiwan faces from China.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Lin’s trip to Europe was to promote the Taiwan Culture in Europe Year — a series of Taiwanese cultural events on the continent — “as a bridge connecting European and Taiwanese values, while fostering exchanges and interactions with European partners.”
Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times
Lin’s visit to Europe this week coincided with that of Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅), a rare overlap of schedules in the same region despite Beijing’s efforts to block Taipei from diplomatic engagements.
Wang yesterday began a three-nation tour to Austria, Slovenia and Poland.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian (林劍) said Beijing strongly opposes any official exchanges with Taiwan, referring to Lin as “merely a local foreign affairs official in China.”
“We firmly oppose any country that has diplomatic relations with China engaging in any form of official interaction with the Taiwan region. We strongly oppose providing a platform for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities,” he said, adding that China has lodged a protest with “the relevant country.”
In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Taiwan, as a member of the international community, “certainly has the right to engage naturally with other like-minded countries on the global stage.”
China has no right to interfere, nor does it have the authority to intervene in the sovereign actions of other countries — its actions merely underscore its hegemonic mindset, it added.
The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.
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