TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Czech Centre Taipei is set to open on Friday (June 14), marking a milestone in Taiwan-Czech relations.
General Director of Czech Centres Jitka Panek Jurkova said her people “want to be seen and heard in Taipei" and that the new center “is designed to deepen the understanding among the Taiwanese public of traditional and especially contemporary Czech culture.”
Jurkova added that the culture and values Czech Centres spotlight are the nation’s “best 'brand'.”
The opening ceremony will feature a photo exhibition titled “Short Stories of Czech Photography,” according to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Czech Centres promote “a deeper understanding of the Czech Republic and its values abroad, which is extremely important for our country."
Czech Centre Taipei Director Marketa Zahumenska said her plans for 2024 include events that "integrate both traditional and contemporary Czech culture," according to a Core Cultural Management press release. These events are “designed to resonate with current global and local issues, aiming to attract diverse audiences including young people, students, and key opinion leaders,” Zahumenska added.
The Czech Republic has 28 centers across four continents, with none in China. Each year, they hold more than 1000 events globally and receive 2.2 million visitors.
The new cultural office follows the establishment of the Czech Hub in Taiwan, which opened last March. The hub’s main goal was “to build a platform inviting new Czech and Taiwanese partners in various sectors and become the bridge between the Czech Republic and Taiwan,” Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies Marketa Pekarova Adamova said at the opening ceremony.
Taiwan-Czech relations have deepened in the past few years, as demonstrated by expanding bilateral cooperation and many visiting Czech delegations. A group of government officials led by Senate Deputy Speaker Jiri Drahos arrived in Taiwan on Monday (June 10) to promote Taiwan-Czech chip cooperation and exchange views on the economy, technology, education, and culture.
