Cooperation between Taiwan and the Czech Republic over the past few months has provided more than 130,000 Ukrainians with clean drinking water and more than 100,000 with heating, Czech Governmental Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine Tomas Kopecny said yesterday.
Kopecny arrived in Taiwan yesterday to discuss the outcomes and prospects of cooperation between Prague and Taipei after the two sides in November last year signed two agreements to partner on reconstruction work in Ukraine. He is to leave today.
The cooperative projects center on rebuilding water treatment facilities, power generation units and primary healthcare systems, Kopecny said, adding that they are expected to be completed in the next few months.
Photo: Reuters
While many countries are assisting Ukraine, the partnership between Taiwan and the Czech Republic is unique in its efficiency and specificity, and is only comparable to the largest donors such as the US, he said.
The projects are assisting areas close to the front lines that have been most heavily affected by Russia’s invasion, but have received relatively little help due to the risks involved, he said.
By working closely with local governments in Ukraine, the projects are more efficient as they do not involve the central government, which might take longer, he said.
Taiwan and the Czech Republic are complementary in their strengths, providing advanced medical products and hardware respectively, Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei head David Steinke said.
Focusing specifically on podiatry, gynecology, intensive care units and general surgery, the healthcare project helps by providing hospitals with necessary supplies, modernizing hospital rooms and training medical personnel, Kopecny said.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have benefited from the efforts of Taiwan and the Czech Republic in the past few months, he said, adding that the two sides are going to discuss future projects on a yearly basis.
Taiwanese should be proud of the outcome of the projects, which have helped expand international recognition of Taiwan as a humanitarian actor, he said.
Kopecny said that he is most impressed with how active the Taiwanese government and people have been in providing concrete assistance to Ukraine, despite being on the other side of the planet.
Kopecny yesterday also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), who expressed the hope that the kind deeds of Taipei and Prague would continue to be passed down.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it would continue working with the Czech government to help Ukraine against authoritarian expansion, safeguard shared values and promote well-being.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
PLANNED: The suspect visited the crime scene before the killings, seeking information on how to access the roof, and had extensively researched a 2014 stabbing incident The suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei on Friday had planned the assault and set fires at other locations earlier in the day, law enforcement officials said yesterday. National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen (張文), began the attacks at 3:40pm, first setting off smoke bombs on a road, damaging cars and motorbikes. Earlier, Chang Wen set fire to a rental room where he was staying on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District (中正), Chang Jung-hsin said. The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits
Taiwan has overtaken South Korea this year in per capita income for the first time in 23 years, IMF data showed. Per capita income is a nation’s GDP divided by the total population, used to compare average wealth levels across countries. Taiwan also beat Japan this year on per capita income, after surpassing it for the first time last year, US magazine Newsweek reported yesterday. Across Asia, Taiwan ranked fourth for per capita income at US$37,827 this year due to sustained economic growth, the report said. In the top three spots were Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong, it said. South
RSS