The Sept. 11-20 visit by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to Czechia, Italy, the Holy See and Austria has expanded bilateral cultural, economic and trade ties.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his stay in the Czech Republic, Lin attended the opening of the “100 Treasures, 100 Stories” exhibition of collection from Taiwan’s National Palace Museum. He also met with legislators and called at the Advanced Chip Design and Research Center in Brno to exchange views with Czech experts on expanding semiconductor and artificial intelligence cooperation.
During his stay in Italy, the minister took part in a ceremony celebrating the completion of renovations at Taiwan’s representative office in Rome and met with Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio and Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group President Lucio Malan.
In Vatican City, Lin toured the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) to the Holy See and met with representatives of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo, known as the Scalabrinian Missionaries, to hand over a donation of 100,000 euros on behalf of the government to support Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
In Austria, his last stop, Lin participated in an event tied to the Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 initiative, called on the Parliament and attended a banquet with Federal Council Vice President Günther Ruprecht and Austria-Taiwan Friendship Group Chair Werner Amon, as well as luminaries in local business and cultural circles.
While in Vienna, the minister took an interview with a Taiwanese media outlet to discuss the Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025, which has exceeded expectations in garnering support for Taiwan and highlighting the country’s freedom, democracy, cultural diversity and inclusivity. He pledged to continue the project in 2026.
The MOFA said the government will continue its integrated diplomacy approach by working with like-minded partners in Europe to enhance democratic resilience and build mutually beneficial alliances to ensure security and prosperity for both sides. (SFC-E)
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