Czech Republic senate president delivers landmark Legislative Yuan address

2020/09/03

Czech Republic Senate President Milos Vystrcil delivered a landmark speech Sept. 1 at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei City, voicing his support for Taiwan and desire for further deepening the relationship between the two like-minded partners in areas such as trade and economic cooperation.
 
 During his 30-minute address, Vystrcil said although democratic countries each possess different systems and ideas, their law-making bodies all share the responsibility of defending and upholding democratic values, with true democracies valuing the people and their livelihoods above all else.
 
 Democrats around the world have a duty to support those who are committed to freedom and democracy, Vystrcil said. That is why he is honored to visit Taiwan as a representative of the Czech Republic’s parliament, he added.
 
 To conclude his speech, Vystrcil took inspiration from former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s famous 1963 address in West Berlin and said “I am Taiwanese” in Mandarin to show his staunch support for the people of Taiwan.
 
 Not only is Vystrcil the first incumbent parliamentary head to address the Legislature in 45 years, but he is also the first to do so from a country that does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. To mark the occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for Parliamentary Diplomacy by LY President You Si-kun.
 
 Vystrcil is currently leading an 89-member delegation on a six-day visit to Taiwan. He is set to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, Premier Su Tseng-chang and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu in the coming days.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)