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.
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