The Legislative Yuan

Press Release

March 28, 2023

President You Si-kun: The people of Taiwan and the Czech Republic support democracy. I thank Czech Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová again for speaking at the Legislative Yuan

Czech Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová visited the Legislative Yuan chamber to deliver a keynote speech on the morning of March 28. After her remarks, Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun hosted a luncheon in honor of the Czech delegation at the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel. Legislative Vice President Tsai Chi-chang; Democratic Progressive Party Whip Ker Chien-ming; KMT Party Whip Hsieh Yi-fong; Taiwan People’s Party Whip Chiu Chen-yuan; New Power Party Whip Chiu Hsien-chih; Convener of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee Tsai Shih-ying; ROC-Czech Parliamentary Amity Association Chairperson Wan Mei-ling; Legislators Kung Wen-chi, Huang Shih-chieh, and Jang Chyi-lu; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Chun Lee; Representative to the Czech Republic Ke Liang-ruey; and Czech Economic and Cultural Office Representative David Steinke were also present.

Before the banquet started, President You once again expressed his pleasure at having Speaker Adamová deliver a keynote speech at the Legislative Yuan chamber. This marked the first time a female speaker had given an address at the Legislative Yuan in the history of Taiwan. He believed that Speaker Adamová had kept a promise by traveling to Taiwan to promote relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic and also to build a new bridge between the two countries. A woman of both vision and action, Speaker Adamová had charmed the people of Taiwan, creating a craze for all things Czech.

President You stated that Speaker Adamová and members of the Czech parliament are Taiwan’s important international friends. As the Chinese Communist Party launches all-out attacks in every corner of the globe, this visit by the Czech parliamentary delegation is a concrete step taken by a true friend. President You thanked both the Czech Senate and Chamber of Deputies for supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations with joint letters or resolutions in consecutive years. President You stressed that when he led a cross-party legislative delegation to the Czech Republic in July 2022, he and the entire delegation were accorded great hospitality. During that trip, he had addressed the full Czech Senate in its chamber, setting a milestone in Taiwan’s parliamentary diplomacy. This was a meaningful breakthrough, for which he was grateful.

President You stressed that, although the two countries are far apart, both support democracy, and the shared values of freedom and democracy meant that there was no distance separating the people of the two countries. To promote the happiness of all mankind, we share a responsibility to cooperate more closely in defense of democracy and freedom around the world. President You said that there are four major political party caucuses in the Legislative Yuan. Following Speaker Adamová’s speech, many legislators expressed a desire to take a photo with her. They then helped each other with taking photos, showing that Taiwan’s legislators, regardless of party affiliation, respect Speaker Adamová’s staunch support of Taiwan. He then thanked the speaker again for her touching remarks and invited all present to toast the national prosperity of the two countries.

Speaker Adamová then thanked the Legislative Yuan for its warm hospitality over the preceding days. She said she was pleased to have had the unforgettable opportunity to address the Legislative Yuan. She then shared how, when President You welcomed her at the airport, he had mentioned that it had not rained in quite some time, but that it seemed that she had brought rains that would alleviate a dry spell. She then said she understood the importance of rain to Taiwan, but personally preferred sunshine. President You, she said, is a warm person, just like the sunshine, and feels to her like an old friend, as they have met in both Prague and Taiwan. When President You visited Prague, she was impressed by his capacity for drinking wine, emptying almost every glass even when several were served with a meal. Being parliamentary speaker, she stressed, is a difficult job. She once again thanked President You and the Legislative Yuan for their warm hospitality. She concluded by proposing a toast to friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

During the luncheon, the two sides continued to exchange views on the international situation and their democratic alliance. President You reiterated that although Taiwan and the Czech Republic are far from each other, they have become close through their shared values. He shared hopes that the two sides would unite to fight against authoritarian regimes and promote democratic values.

The luncheon ended at 12:30 p.m. amid beautiful music and an amicable atmosphere.