Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is to travel to the Czech Republic on Saturday to attend the Forum 2000 Conference, an annual event in Prague, Tsai’s office confirmed yesterday.
Local Chinese-language news media yesterday reported that Tsai visited President William Lai (賴清德) at the presidential residence on Sunday, and they discussed diplomacy, national defense, international cooperation, as well as Tsai’s scheduled trip to Europe.
A source with knowledge of the issue yesterday said that Lai strongly encouraged and supports Tsai’s visit, and also instructed the National Security Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist her, including having National Security Council adviser Alex Huang (黃重諺) accompany Tsai on the trip.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office via CNA
Tsai’s office later yesterday afternoon confirmed the former president’s trip to the Czech Republic.
The office said Tsai was invited by the Forum 2000 Conference and she would be traveling to Prague on Saturday to attend and deliver a speech at the 28th annual conference, to be held from Sunday to Tuesday next week.
Tsai would send blessings from Lai and Taiwanese to the Czech Republic and other friendly nations during the trip, her office said.
Tsai on Facebook yesterday said that Taiwan and the Czech Republic underwent similar journeys to democracy via the sacrifices of predecessors that bravely fought against authoritarian regimes to establish a free and democratic society.
Therefore, Taiwan and the Czech Republic are not only close economic and trade partners, but are like-minded nations who together firmly defend freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, she said.
“During the trip, I will deliver a speech at the forum and share Taiwan’s experience of working toward democracy and prosperity,” Tsai said. “At the same time, I hope more like-minded forces in international society can come together to respond to the severe political and economic challenges ahead.”
Tsai’s office said the Forum 2000 Conference was founded by former Czech president Vaclav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa in 1996.
It is dedicated to supporting the values of democracy, respect for human rights and assisting the development of civil society.
Tsai was invited to attend the annual forum in 2004, when she was head of the Mainland Affairs Council, and she also delivered prerecorded speeches three times at the forum during her presidency, Tsai’s office said.
A Reuters report citing two diplomatic sources said that Tsai also plans to visit France and Belgium on the same trip to Europe.
Tsai’s office said there are some details about her itinerary that are still to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) yesterday said that Lai extends his best wishes to Tsai for her upcoming visit to Europe.
Lai also expressed confidence that the visit would further enhance the friendship between Taiwan and European nations, helping Taiwan and Europe develop even stronger and closer ties, she said.
Lai said that Tsai is deeply trusted by democratic friends and allies in the international community, and that as a former head of state, she is an ideal representative to speak for Taiwan on the international stage, Kou said.
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