Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
November 17, 2023
(As delivered)
Ladies and gentlemen:
I am honored to join you tonight on this special occasion to mark the National Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy of the Slovak Republic. We are also here to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Slovakia and the 20th anniversary of the mutual establishment of representative offices in our countries. I would like to congratulate the people and government of Slovakia on 30 years of independence and express my appreciation for our steadfast friendship.
Taiwan and Slovakia are united by a passionate love of democracy that runs deep in our blood. On this day in 1989, hundreds of thousands of heroic Slovak and Czech students stood up for freedom. Their demonstrations sparked a movement that paved the way for the birth of democratic Slovakia in 1993. Taiwan went through a similar process of democratization around the same time. Protests by courageous Taiwanese people culminated in the lifting of martial law in 1987 and the peaceful transition from autocracy to democracy.
Both Taiwan and Slovakia understand that freedom does not come easy. After the transition to democracy, we need a continuous process of democratic consolidation. This September, Slovakia completed another successful round of elections to the National Council. And Taiwan will undertake another presidential election in two months. Both our nations fought hard for freedom and democracy and are enjoying the fruits of those struggles today. We may be thousands of miles apart, but because we hold so much in common, our bond will never break.
In addition to our shared commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights, Taiwan and Slovakia work in tandem in a range of different areas—from economic cooperation to cultural exchanges, from education to healthcare, and from technology to aerospace development. In the past 20 years, we have signed over 30 cooperation agreements. Bilateral trade reached a record high of 471 million US dollars last year, an increase of 34 percent from the previous year. And Taiwanese companies have invested approximately 300 million euros in Slovakia.
Recently, mutual visits by high-ranking officials and parliamentarians have greatly increased. In 2021, I was invited by GLOBSEC to give a speech in Bratislava. Later the same year, State Secretary Karol Galek led a 43-member delegation to Taiwan, arriving on a government plane. Last year, National Council Deputy Speaker Milan Laurencik led a 10-member delegation of senior parliamentarians and municipal officials to Taiwan. And this year, I received a 26-person high-level delegation led by Deputy Economic Minister Peter Svec. On that visit, eight cooperation agreements were signed during the third session of the Taiwanese-Slovak Commission on Economic Cooperation. The fourth session has already been slated for next year. These exchanges have advanced bilateral collaboration at all levels and in all spheres.
I would like to thank Representative Hromý for his tremendous contributions to building the cordial relationship between Taiwan and Slovakia. After two decades of thriving bilateral exchanges, I am confident that the ties between our countries will continue to grow stronger in the years to come. Now, please allow me to propose a toast: to the ever-lasting friendship between our countries and to the good health, prosperity, and happiness of each and every one of you. Thank you.