TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) highlighted the common struggles for democracy shared by Poland and Taiwan during a meeting with former Polish President Lech Walesa on Tuesday.

Lai called Walesa “a pioneer of Poland’s democratic movement” and said he demonstrated to the world that freedom is “never a gift from rulers, nor is democracy an accident of history,” according to the Presidential Office. As long as people do not give up hope and society is united, authoritarianism can be defeated, Lai said.

The president said both countries understand democracy does not come easily and must be protected by future generations.

Lai said Taiwan is determined to continue serving as a force for good and to contribute to global democratic resilience. In the face of rapidly changing geopolitics and gray zone coercion, like-minded countries must work together and support each other to safeguard regional peace and stability and promote global prosperity, he said. He added that only Taiwanese should decide the nation’s future.

The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Poland could deepen cooperation in upholding democracy, social resilience, and supply chain security.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski highlighted Poland’s interest in technological cooperation with Taiwan earlier this month. With a war being waged near Poland’s borders, it would be a mistake for the country to focus only on its immediate surroundings and neglect partners farther away, Sikorski said. Poland has consistently maintained interest in technological cooperation with partners in Taiwan, he said.