President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han meets with parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Speaker Michał Kamiński of the Polish Senate. President Han: We thank the parliament of Poland for their firm support for Taiwan.
On the morning of December 11, President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han, accompanied by TPP Legislator Lin Chu-Yin, who is the Chair of the Taiwan-Poland Inter-parliamentary Amity Association, KMT Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP Legislator Wu Chun-Cheng, and International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, met with a 10-member parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Speaker Michał Kamiński of the Polish Senate. Director Cyryl Kozaczewski of the Polish Office in Taipei and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Remus Chen Li-Kuo also accompanied the delegation.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and the guests, President Han shared that when he was serving as a legislator at the third legislature in 1996, then President Lech Wałęsa of Poland visited the Legislative Yuan and gave a speech. President Han recalled former President Wałęsa's firm belief in freedom and human rights, as well as his inspiring speech, which is still fresh in his memories to this day.
President Han continued by noting that Taiwan's parliament features a unicameral system with a total of 113 members and three major political parties. He then introduced Legislators Lin Chu-Yin, Chen Yeong-Kang, and Wu Chun-Cheng, and noted that the presence of cross-party legislators demonstrates the importance that the Legislative Yuan attaches to the visiting delegation. President Han also expressed his gratitude to members of the delegation for voicing support for Taiwan’s international participation.
In addition, President Han remarked that Poland will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025. He expressed his hope that Poland will continue to support Taiwan and thanked the members of the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentary Group present for their profound friendship with Taiwan. President Han also lauded Poland's charm, as it has produced great figures such as Fryderyk Chopin and Marie Curie. He also pointed out that enriching literary works such as the Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski have become popular in Taiwan in recent years, demonstrating the increased cultural exchanges between the two nations.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Kamiński said that it was a great honor to visit the Legislative Yuan and that the meeting was of great significance. He noted that members of parliament in both Taiwan and Poland are elected under a free and democratic system, which underscores the democratic values shared by both nations. He stressed that the visiting delegation consisted of members from both the ruling and opposition parties in the Polish parliament, highlighting the diversity of Polish politics. Deputy Speaker Kamiński also pointed out that since they set foot on Taiwan, they have witnessed the democratic values shared by the two nations and the political structure that embodies the essence of democracy; they have also understood that both the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan are committed to safeguarding democracy.
Deputy Speaker Kamiński continued by pointing out that no political parties in Poland have any interest in communism. In response to President Han's remarks on former President Wałęsa and his deeds, Deputy Speaker Kamiński mentioned that former President Wałęsa used to work in a shipyard before he bravely stood against the autocratic communist regime in the 1980s, exposing the nature of communism, built upon lies. Deputy Speaker Kamiński added that this part of history has allowed political parties of Poland to work together in opposing communism.
He expressed that the Russo-Ukrainian war has once again reminded Poland of the difference between life lived in freedom and under the yoke of autocracy. He remarked on the Polish people’s firm belief that it is the responsibility of liberal and democratic countries to strengthen their collaborations in economy, culture, and science and technology. Deputy Speaker Kamiński added that in recent years, economic exchanges between Poland and Taiwan have increased, and so has the number of tourists visiting each other, highlighting the increasingly closer ties between the two nations. He shared his dream that one day there will be direct flights between Taiwan and Poland for increased bilateral exchanges. In addition, he sincerely invited the people of Taiwan to visit Poland and thanked the hospitality of the Taiwanese people, making their visit unforgettable.
Legislator Lin Chu-Yin extended her welcome to the visiting delegation and talked about her experience visiting Poland three times. She also mentioned that after the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the Taiwanese people showed the humanitarian spirit and assisted Ukrainian refugees through Poland, which is an example of transnational cooperation. Legislator Lin also expressed her hope for continued efforts in promoting direct flights and agricultural exchanges between the two nations to further deepen bilateral relations.
Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang noted that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the efforts of Poland assisting Ukraine in its defense have been truly admirable, exemplifying the responsibility and character expected of a liberal and democratic nation. He also mentioned that he can still recall the time he visited a naval base in Poland and delivered a speech over 20 years ago. Legislator Chen continued by noting that he has served as the President of Taiwan’s National Defense University, which has given him a deep understanding of how education and national defense work, areas in which Taiwan and Poland have great potential for collaboration. He looked forward to increased exchanges between the two nations in the future to jointly safeguard regional security in Asia and Europe.
Legislator Wu Chun-Cheng compared Poland and Taiwan to the two keys to the world, for they both face the threat of communism. He noted that Poland has delivered significant contributions to many fields, including culture, science and technology, health care, and music, while Taiwan has also made great progress in related fields. Therefore, he looked forward to seeing the two nations have in-depth exchanges and work to create mutual benefits and common prosperity.
Members of the visiting delegation took turns making their addresses, as both sides engaged in an extensive exchange of views on various topics, including the number of members of the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentary Group, health care services, civil defense, resistance to communist oppression, and scientific and technological developments. In closing, Deputy Speaker Kamiński sincerely invited President Han to visit Poland with a cross-party delegation to further deepen Taiwan-Poland parliamentary exchanges. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and concluded on a friendly and pleasant note, with the exchange of commemorative gifts to mark the occasion.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and the guests, President Han shared that when he was serving as a legislator at the third legislature in 1996, then President Lech Wałęsa of Poland visited the Legislative Yuan and gave a speech. President Han recalled former President Wałęsa's firm belief in freedom and human rights, as well as his inspiring speech, which is still fresh in his memories to this day.
President Han continued by noting that Taiwan's parliament features a unicameral system with a total of 113 members and three major political parties. He then introduced Legislators Lin Chu-Yin, Chen Yeong-Kang, and Wu Chun-Cheng, and noted that the presence of cross-party legislators demonstrates the importance that the Legislative Yuan attaches to the visiting delegation. President Han also expressed his gratitude to members of the delegation for voicing support for Taiwan’s international participation.
In addition, President Han remarked that Poland will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025. He expressed his hope that Poland will continue to support Taiwan and thanked the members of the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentary Group present for their profound friendship with Taiwan. President Han also lauded Poland's charm, as it has produced great figures such as Fryderyk Chopin and Marie Curie. He also pointed out that enriching literary works such as the Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski have become popular in Taiwan in recent years, demonstrating the increased cultural exchanges between the two nations.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker Kamiński said that it was a great honor to visit the Legislative Yuan and that the meeting was of great significance. He noted that members of parliament in both Taiwan and Poland are elected under a free and democratic system, which underscores the democratic values shared by both nations. He stressed that the visiting delegation consisted of members from both the ruling and opposition parties in the Polish parliament, highlighting the diversity of Polish politics. Deputy Speaker Kamiński also pointed out that since they set foot on Taiwan, they have witnessed the democratic values shared by the two nations and the political structure that embodies the essence of democracy; they have also understood that both the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan are committed to safeguarding democracy.
Deputy Speaker Kamiński continued by pointing out that no political parties in Poland have any interest in communism. In response to President Han's remarks on former President Wałęsa and his deeds, Deputy Speaker Kamiński mentioned that former President Wałęsa used to work in a shipyard before he bravely stood against the autocratic communist regime in the 1980s, exposing the nature of communism, built upon lies. Deputy Speaker Kamiński added that this part of history has allowed political parties of Poland to work together in opposing communism.
He expressed that the Russo-Ukrainian war has once again reminded Poland of the difference between life lived in freedom and under the yoke of autocracy. He remarked on the Polish people’s firm belief that it is the responsibility of liberal and democratic countries to strengthen their collaborations in economy, culture, and science and technology. Deputy Speaker Kamiński added that in recent years, economic exchanges between Poland and Taiwan have increased, and so has the number of tourists visiting each other, highlighting the increasingly closer ties between the two nations. He shared his dream that one day there will be direct flights between Taiwan and Poland for increased bilateral exchanges. In addition, he sincerely invited the people of Taiwan to visit Poland and thanked the hospitality of the Taiwanese people, making their visit unforgettable.
Legislator Lin Chu-Yin extended her welcome to the visiting delegation and talked about her experience visiting Poland three times. She also mentioned that after the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the Taiwanese people showed the humanitarian spirit and assisted Ukrainian refugees through Poland, which is an example of transnational cooperation. Legislator Lin also expressed her hope for continued efforts in promoting direct flights and agricultural exchanges between the two nations to further deepen bilateral relations.
Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang noted that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the efforts of Poland assisting Ukraine in its defense have been truly admirable, exemplifying the responsibility and character expected of a liberal and democratic nation. He also mentioned that he can still recall the time he visited a naval base in Poland and delivered a speech over 20 years ago. Legislator Chen continued by noting that he has served as the President of Taiwan’s National Defense University, which has given him a deep understanding of how education and national defense work, areas in which Taiwan and Poland have great potential for collaboration. He looked forward to increased exchanges between the two nations in the future to jointly safeguard regional security in Asia and Europe.
Legislator Wu Chun-Cheng compared Poland and Taiwan to the two keys to the world, for they both face the threat of communism. He noted that Poland has delivered significant contributions to many fields, including culture, science and technology, health care, and music, while Taiwan has also made great progress in related fields. Therefore, he looked forward to seeing the two nations have in-depth exchanges and work to create mutual benefits and common prosperity.
Members of the visiting delegation took turns making their addresses, as both sides engaged in an extensive exchange of views on various topics, including the number of members of the Polish-Taiwanese Parliamentary Group, health care services, civil defense, resistance to communist oppression, and scientific and technological developments. In closing, Deputy Speaker Kamiński sincerely invited President Han to visit Poland with a cross-party delegation to further deepen Taiwan-Poland parliamentary exchanges. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and concluded on a friendly and pleasant note, with the exchange of commemorative gifts to mark the occasion.