Taiwan, Slovakia hold talks as island firms ties with Europe

TAIPEI – Senior officials from the Slovak Republic are successful Taiwan for talks connected deepening ties with the land successful the highest-level sojourn by the EU-member state since it opened a typical bureau successful Taiwan successful 2003.

The sojourn by the delegation, which began Sunday, follows a ngo past period by members of the European Parliament to the self-ruled island, which is besides claimed by China.

It comes amid increasing enactment for the land democracy, which China says is portion of its territory and could beryllium annexed by unit if necessary.

“The information that we are present contiguous contempt the pandemic is due to the fact that we are determined and committed to moving with Taiwan,” said Lucia Kišš, manager wide for Economic and Development Cooperation astatine Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, she called Taiwan “one of the astir important investors” for the country.

Taiwan has ceremonial diplomatic ties with 15 nations. Countries that support those relations look the ire of China's leaders, who importune that each countries adhere to a “one-China" argumentation formally recognizing lone Beijing.

Ad

Lithuania, different EU member, accepted Taiwan’s petition successful July to unfastened a typical bureau successful its superior city. It has besides donated hundreds of thousands of vaccines to the land this year, provoking China’s displeasure. In August, China withdrew its ambassador to Lithuania successful protestation and expelled Lithuania’s ambassador from Beijing.

European Commission spokeswoman Miriam Garcia Ferrer stressed the practice bureau didn't magnitude to an embassy oregon consulate and should not beryllium an contented erstwhile it comes to the one-China policy.

Garcia Ferrer said that Lithuania had informed the EU that China was making customs clearance for their firms difficult. She said that the EU would spot if it amounted to a concerted effort, successful which lawsuit it would analyse if it is compatible with the rules of the World Trade Organization.

The caput of Taiwan’s National Development Council, Kung Ming-hsin, who visited Slovakia successful October, said Taiwan had investments worthy much than $564 cardinal (500 cardinal euros) successful the country, creating 3,000 jobs there.

Ad

Kung's sojourn yielded 7 agreements connected strengthening practice connected commercialized and technology.

Two-way commercialized betwixt Taiwan and Slovakia totaled $250 cardinal successful the archetypal 9 months of 2021, according to Taiwanese authorities data, up 18.4% from the aforesaid play a twelvemonth earlier.

Kung besides noted that Slovakia donated 160,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines successful September, successful an look of friendship. Taiwan had donated hundreds of thousands of look masks to Slovakia during the opening of the pandemic.

“I judge specified communal benefits, exchanges and practice coincides with what President Tsai Ing-wen calls a virtuous cycle,” helium said. “We volition grow this rhythm to different fields including economical and commercialized cooperation.”

The Slovakian delegation is headed by its lawman system minister, Karol Galek and different officials and concern representatives.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.