President Tsai meets Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib
During a meeting on the morning of March 30 with a delegation led by Dr. Zdeněk Hřib, mayor of Prague, President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized that the people of Taiwan reject the so-called "1992 Consensus" and the "one country, two systems model for Taiwan," and added that exchanges among cities throughout the world should not be subject to unilaterally imposed political preconditions. We should allow for a return to normalcy in exchanges among cities, she said, to promote people-to-people ties and general well-being. In addition to thanking Mayor Hřib for his support for Taiwan, President Tsai also expressed hope that exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the Czech Republic can be further enhanced, and that the two countries can continue to deepen and develop their bilateral relationship.
In remarks, President Tsai first welcomed Mayor Hřib and his delegation to Taiwan on behalf of the people of Taiwan, and stated that during her recent overseas trip she saw many news reports in Taiwan about Mayor Hřib. His position that "human rights are more important than pandas" has earned him many Taiwanese fans, she said.
President Tsai mentioned that Mayor Hřib's experience as an intern at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has made Taiwan his home away from home, and he calls himself a "Taiwan fan," which is quite touching. We hope to engage in more exchanges with Mayor Hřib in the future, she said.
Noting that the Czech Pirate Party deeply appreciates the value of democracy, President Tsai took the opportunity to thank delegation member and Prague City Councilor Michaela Krausova for speaking up for Taiwan and introducing a proposal to eliminate language in the sister city agreement between Prague and Beijing that requires Prague to adhere to a "one China" policy. Her proposal was supported by Mayor Hřib and the Pirate Party, for which the president expressed gratitude.
Besides offering thanks to Mayor Hřib, President Tsai also emphasized that the people of Taiwan reject the so-called "1992 Consensus" and the "one country, two systems model for Taiwan," and added that exchanges among cities throughout the world should not be subject to unilaterally imposed political preconditions. We should allow for a return to normalcy in exchanges among cities, she said, to promote people-to-people ties and general well-being, she said.
President Tsai mentioned that the main reason for Mayor Hřib's visit was to study Taiwan's approach to smart healthcare, and that she herself had also made a point of learning about the achievements of Taiwan's overseas medical and agricultural missions when she recently visited three of Taiwan's Pacific allies.
President Tsai indicated her hope that Mayor Hřib, as a physician, would appreciate the advanced state of medical care in Taiwan and the contributions Taiwan has made in this field worldwide. In the future, she said, in addition to exchanges in the field of smart healthcare, we can also enhance cooperation in other sectors. We look forward to developing and strengthening relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic with the support of our distinguished guests, she said.
Finally, President Tsai told Mayor Hřib: "Taiwan is your second home, and you are welcome back anytime." She also wished the delegation a successful trip.