Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung conferred the Grand Medal of Diplomacy on David Steinke, outgoing head of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, Sept. 22 in the capital in honor of his contributions to Taiwan-Czechia ties.
The minister underscored the thriving exchanges between Taiwan and Czechia during Steinke’s four-year term, citing the launch of direct flights between Taipei and Prague in July 2023 and the Taiwan-Czech Resilience Program on joint semiconductor research in June 2024.
Lin said he and Steinke jointly hosted two delegations headed by Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and First Deputy Speaker Jiří Drahoš to Taiwan. Their visits not only helped enhance the democratic partnership but also promoted expanded exchanges between Taiwan and European like-minded countries, the minister added.
In addition, the minister visited Czechia twice during the same period and engaged in in-depth, candid and constructive discussions with officials, he said, adding that the visits also boded well for further expansion of the two-way ties.
In response, Steinke said he was honored to receive the medal. He recalled an interview with local media at the start of his term, in which he listed the direct flights, exhibition of National Palace Museum treasures in Prague and semiconductor cooperation as top priorities.
The representative said he is pleased that all the goals have been achieved. He added that he will miss Taiwan, saying that he will always remember the warmth of the people and the way the society blends tradition and technology. (SFC-E)
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The minister underscored the thriving exchanges between Taiwan and Czechia during Steinke’s four-year term, citing the launch of direct flights between Taipei and Prague in July 2023 and the Taiwan-Czech Resilience Program on joint semiconductor research in June 2024.
Lin said he and Steinke jointly hosted two delegations headed by Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and First Deputy Speaker Jiří Drahoš to Taiwan. Their visits not only helped enhance the democratic partnership but also promoted expanded exchanges between Taiwan and European like-minded countries, the minister added.
In addition, the minister visited Czechia twice during the same period and engaged in in-depth, candid and constructive discussions with officials, he said, adding that the visits also boded well for further expansion of the two-way ties.
In response, Steinke said he was honored to receive the medal. He recalled an interview with local media at the start of his term, in which he listed the direct flights, exhibition of National Palace Museum treasures in Prague and semiconductor cooperation as top priorities.
The representative said he is pleased that all the goals have been achieved. He added that he will miss Taiwan, saying that he will always remember the warmth of the people and the way the society blends tradition and technology. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News