TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil will lead a delegation to Taiwan from May 31 to June 4, with plans for political dialogue, cultural exchanges, and the unveiling of a “Havel Bench.”
Vystrcil, who last visited Taiwan in 2020, said cooperation between the two sides has produced significant results in recent years and he looks forward to reconnecting with Taiwanese partners. He noted he will travel on a commercial flight from Prague to Taipei, rather than on a government aircraft, per CNA.
Speaking at a press conference at the Czech Senate on Tuesday, Vystrcil highlighted expanding ties, including technologies such as data centers and AI. He said Taiwanese companies have continued to expand server and semiconductor manufacturing operations in the Czech Republic, strengthening the country’s position in the European chip supply chain.
“The products we import from Taiwan are used to develop new technologies and further export them. This brings huge added value to the Czech Republic,” Vystrcil said, emphasizing that such imports are not low-value goods.
Vystrcil added that stable bilateral relations make high-level exchanges increasingly important. His upcoming visit will include representatives from business, universities, and research institutions aimed at deepening economic, academic, and cultural cooperation.
He also questioned the Czech government’s past approach to relations with China, noting that many previously announced large-scale investment commitments had failed to materialize and that technological cooperation had been limited. Vystrcil said pledges by China to invest have been more focused on acquisitions than on innovation or joint research, per CNA.
“Is this really the cooperation model we want?” he said, urging a more cautious and strategic approach to selecting international partners, particularly in areas involving national security and data protection.
He called on the Czech government to build consensus on key issues such as defense, competitiveness, and economic autonomy. Vystrcil emphasized that the freedoms and democratic values the Czech Republic has maintained since 1989 remain its most important assets and should not be compromised by short-term considerations.
