The 89-member delegation of the Czech Republic, headed by Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, on Friday evening departed Taiwan, ending their six-day visit.
Vystrcil met many liberal-minded and creative people during his stay, he said, adding that he hopes the visit would not only deepen ties between the Czech Republic and Taiwan, but also bring about investment opportunities for the two sides.
He looked forward to Taiwanese carriers starting direct flights between the nations and for Taiwan to export high-value-added products to the Czech Republic, he said.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
The nations agree on the importance of promoting freedom and democracy, Vystrcil said, adding that he enjoyed his stay in Taiwan.
Vystrcil and the delegation, which included eight Czech senators and Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib, flew to Taiwan on Sunday last week for the landmark visit, despite strong condemnation from China.
During the visit, the group of representatives of Czech political, business, science and cultural sectors signed three memorandums of understanding with Taiwanese companies to enhance cooperation.
The visit also resulted in the Czech Republic allowing Taiwanese state-run banks to open branches in the country and China Airlines to operate direct flights there.
On Thursday, while meeting with Vystrcil, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said that the visit had been a fruitful one, and praised the delegation for making an important first step in breaking down barriers, even though the nations do not have official diplomatic ties.
Such an exchange tells “all our friends in Europe and around the world that friends upholding the same beliefs, regardless of whether they are Czech or Taiwanese, will not succumb to oppression and will continue to bravely ensure our voices are heard,” she said.
During his stay, Vystrcil also met several other top Taiwanese officials, and spoke at the Legislative Yuan and National Chengchi University in Taipei.
He on Tuesday received a Congressional Diplomacy Honorary Medal from the legislature, making him the first legislative head from a country with which Taiwan has no diplomatic relations to receive the recognition since it was created in 2007.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious