Prague, Sept. 13 (CNA) A ceremony celebrating the launch of the new cultural division in the Prague Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) was held on Wednesday, with officials from both sides lauding the key role they hope cultural exchange will play in establishing strong connections between the two nations.
At the ceremony, Taiwan’s Minister of Culture Shih Che (史哲) said that the opening of the office represented an opportunity for Taiwan to give friends in Czechia the chance to engage with Taiwanese arts and culture and that he hoped, as a result, both sides would increasingly build up an understanding of each other.
Shih told CNA that the division, which began operating earlier this year, is the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, and that he hoped Taiwan’s cultural exchange would take hold in Czechia and then spread to other parts of the region.
“This is an area of the world that Taiwan has never really had strong connections with, but now it’s time for both sides to change that,” Shih said.
Shih added that Taiwan and Czechia have a special connection. “We began pursuing democracy at the same time,” he said.
Shih noted that it is also important to respect diversity. Although the two countries are far away and have distinct cultures, “cultural exchange and the respect and understanding the two countries have for each other represent core democratic values,” Shih said.
Also at the ceremony, Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil told CNA that he was proud of how the relationship between Taiwan and Czechia was developing and that he was pleased both sides were using cultural exchange to strengthen ties.
Vystrčil added that festivals and join exhibitions would be effective in bringing people from both sides together.
Ke Liang-ruey (柯良叡), head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague, said that the establishment of a cultural division under the office is a milestone for both sides.
Ke also cited the direct flight between the two countries as another example of the warming relations between the two countries.
He told reporters that the office would take on the mission of promoting Taiwan to other Central and Eastern European nations, as well as acting as the bridge between Taiwan and Czechia.
During the ceremony, Michal Lukeš, director general of the National Museum in Prague, and Karel Ksandr, director general of the National Technical Museum in Prague, both said they had visited Taiwan in the past and were looking forward to cooperating more with the island nation.
A group of Czech and Taiwanese officials also visited the Czech Parliament and laid a wreath in memory of the late Czech senate president Jaroslav Kubera, who was a staunch supporter of Taiwan.
