On the afternoon of June 4, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) once again received Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and his delegation at the Speaker’s residence, accompanied by Representative David Steinke of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and Ambassador Remus Li-Kuo Chen of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Han opened the reception by expressing his delight at meeting President Vystrčil again before his departure from Taiwan and thanked President Vystrčil for making time for the meeting. President Han mentioned that the Speaker’s residence has a history of more than 40 years and joyfully said that it was likely the first time so many friends from the Czech Republic had gathered there, making the occasion especially meaningful. He also checked in on the delegation after several days of intensive visits. In response, President Vystrčil said that even though the itinerary was packed and fulfilling, the delegation felt very pleased, found the trip rewarding, and was deeply impressed by Taiwan.
President Han noted that the people of Taiwan deeply admire and are thankful to President Vystrčil for his firm and long-standing support for Taiwan, as well as for continuing to take concrete action to demonstrate his commitment to the values of democracy and freedom. President Han also expressed that Taiwan and the Czech Republic share core values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. He said that bilateral relations have continued to deepen and yield fruitful results in parliamentary diplomacy, technology, education, culture, and supply chain cooperation. In particular, he said, in international settings, the Czech Republic has repeatedly and publicly supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations in recent years, fully demonstrating its steadfast friendship with and support for Taiwan, which is deeply moving.
President Han mentioned that during this visit to Taiwan, the delegation led by President Vystrčil not only attended COMPUTEX and InnoVEX, but also had extensive exchanges with Taiwan’s government and industry representatives, further demonstrating the highly complementary strengths of Taiwan and the Czech Republic in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. The prospects for future cooperation, he said, are promising.
President Vystrčil shared that during his visit to National Chengchi University, students showed great interest in the Czech parliamentary system and his political career. Among the questions they asked was how one becomes a senator. President Vystrčil then shared that under Czech law, one must be at least 40 years old to serve as a senator. In response, President Han noted that in Taiwan, one must be at least 40 years old to run for president, while citizens have the right to vote at the age of 20, and the right to stand for election at the age of 23. Subsequently, both sides exchanged views on democratic systems and youth political participation.
During the meeting, President Han specially prepared Taiwanese signature delicacies, including shaved ice, barbecued pork puffs, and brown sugar cake, for President Vystrčil and the delegation so they could sample local Taiwanese cuisine and cultural specialties, creating a lively and cordial atmosphere. The two sides also exchanged views on Taiwanese and Czech food culture, including Taiwanese xiaolongbao, Czech traditional cuisine, and the brandy culture. President Han also gifted President Vystrčil sun cakes, a well-known Taiwanese souvenir, symbolizing the enduring and fulfilling friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic. President Vystrčil then expressed sincere gratitude to President Han for his hospitality.
President Han emphasized that in the face of the rapidly changing global landscape, democratic countries should support one another and work together hand in hand. He said that Taiwan will continue to deepen its partnerships with the Czech Republic and other like-minded countries to collectively safeguard democracy, freedom, and regional peace and stability.
President Vystrčil then expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the Legislative Yuan and various sectors in Taiwan during the delegation’s visit. He also expressed that the friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, built on democratic values and mutual trust, is especially precious. He looked forward to the two sides continuing to deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the future, thereby advancing their partnership in technology, trade, and talent exchange.
Both sides then exchanged views on energy policy, nuclear energy development, and legislative systems. Subsequently, they exchanged commemorative gifts and posed for a group photo in a warm and formal atmosphere. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes in a cordial and lively atmosphere, with both sides thoroughly enjoying the exchange. It became another delightful highlight of the delegation’s visit to Taiwan and concluded on a successful note. (2026/06/04)
