On January 21, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) invited former Czech Parliament Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová and Head of the Taiwan Office of the European Values Center for Security Policy (EVC) Marcin Jerzewski to visit Taichung. KMT legislators Huang Chien-Hao and Liao Wei-Hsiang accompanied the delegation throughout the visit.
Vice President Chiang first arranged for the guests to experience Taichung’s local food, including the signature shabu-shabu hot pot and the globally known bubble tea. By integrating cultural elements with industry engagement, he hoped to bring the two sides closer. The guests then visited Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp. and spoke to the media.
Vice President Chiang extended a warm welcome to former Speaker Adamová on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜). Vice President Chiang further noted that he visited the Czech Republic in each of the past two years. He especially thanked the Czech Parliament for passing amendments to the National Heritage Protection Act, which enabled valuable artifacts from Taiwan’s National Palace Museum to be exhibited in the Czech Republic, underscoring the profound mutual trust and successful cultural cooperation between the two sides.
Vice President Chiang expressed that Taiwan and the Czech Republic are key partners that value freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and that both play pivotal roles in the international community. He added that the two sides are highly complementary in politics, trade, and industrial supply chain cooperation. Taiwan, he said, can be the Czech Republic’s gateway to Asia, while the Czech Republic can serve as Taiwan’s gateway to Europe.
Vice President Chiang further noted that Taichung is a major industrial hub in Taiwan and has long been internationally recognized for its precision machinery and machine tool industries. He therefore arranged a tour of Hiwin Mikrosystem’s robotic arms and automation technologies. Vice President Chiang also noted that the Czech Republic is a major machinery manufacturing power in Europe. The two sides, he said, are highly complementary in advanced manufacturing, smart machinery, and automation, leaving significant room for further industrial supply chain cooperation.
Former Speaker Adamová stated that this was her first visit to Taichung and that she was deeply impressed by the city’s cuisine and by the strength and vitality demonstrated by its precision machinery and manufacturing industries. She added that even after stepping down as Speaker of the Czech Republic’s Chamber of Deputies, she still hopes to continue contributing to Taiwan-Czech relations by strengthening ties in industrial cooperation while deepening cultural and trade exchanges.
Regarding the current international trade environment, Vice President Chiang said that the Taiwan-US tariff issue has gradually become clearer while a framework for industrial cooperation has also taken shape. However, he added, amid global supply chain restructuring and intensifying competition, Taiwan’s industries must continue to upgrade and transform to enhance overall competitiveness in preparation for various future challenges.
Following their remarks, Vice President Chiang accompanied former Speaker Adamová on a visit to Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp., where she was received by the company’s President Szu Kuo-I and briefed on-site on the current development of Taiwan’s precision machinery and advanced manufacturing industries.
At the end of the visit, Vice President Chiang emphasized that the Legislative Yuan will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with friends in the Czech Republic across party lines, expand industrial partnerships, strengthen transportation connectivity, and work together to safeguard democratic values and regional peace. The meeting and visit lasted about three hours in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere and concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts. (2026/01/21)
