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.
Dignitaries of the Czech Republic, including Parliament Chamber of Deputies President Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, Senate First Vice-President Jiří Drahoš, Deputy Culture Minister David Kašpar, Deputy Environment Minister Eduard Levý, and National Museum director General Michal Lukeš were present at the "100 Treasures, 100 Stories: Treasures from the National Palace Museum" exhibition opening.
Photo: CNA
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠), a delegation of lawmakers led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), NPM director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) and Deputy NPM director Yu Pei-chin (余佩瑾) also attended.
A total of 131 iconic artifacts are being showcased, including one of the museum's most popular items, Jadeite Cabbage with Insects, as well as Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lukeš 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 is finally making its European debut.
The occasion marks the "trusting relationship" between the two countries, "because the NPM would not lend their precious collections to untrue friends," he said, thanking authorities and curators from both countries for realizing the dream.
Hsiao said the exhibition was a result of cohesive collaboration between the two countries that deepened Taiwan-Czech interactions and embodied the understanding and friendship between democratic societies.
Adamová said that she "had it complete" when she finally saw the jadeite cabbage, after having seen the Meat-Shaped Stone when she visited Taiwan in 2023, saying that the jade was "a really beautiful piece."
"We have such great partners in Taiwan who trust in us [that] we will care about such expensive pieces," she said.
Speaking to the press after the opening ceremony, Hsiao said he was proud of the NPM team, whose curators and researchers were important assets to the museum in addition to its collection.
He said that the power of culture lies in its ability to cross language and geographical barriers, helping people understand each other and themselves.
"Art has no boundaries," he said.
Hsiao said he also expressed wishes to Lukeš for Czech artifacts to be displayed in Taiwan.
The NPM would continue to communicate with an open attitude and culturally bridge Taiwan and the rest of the world, he added.
Meanwhile, Li told reporters that besides being "moved" by the success of the exhibition opening, he also felt "proud" of the "integrative abilities and inclusiveness" of Taiwan's culture.
The exhibition is to run until Dec. 31 at the National Museum in Prague.
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