《TAIPEI TIMES》Prague office opens new culture division

CULTURAL ASSET: The establishment of the division is ‘another milestone’ for relations between the two nations, Representative to the Czech Republic Ke Liang-ruey said

By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with CNA

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Taiwan on Wednesday opened a culture division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague, which Minister of Culture Shih Che （史哲） said is of special significance to international exchanges.

Shih attended a plaque-unveiling ceremony for the division — the first of its kind in Central Europe — in Prague on his first trip abroad as a minister.

“Taiwanese culture is the business card that represents Taiwan,” the Ministry of Culture quoted him as saying in a statement. “Now I am handing this business card to my Czech friends in the hope that the people of Taiwan and the Czech Republic can better understand each other through art and culture.”

The Czech Republic has a rich cultural and historical heritage and outstanding achievements in the fields of painting, sculpture, literature and music, while Taiwan has developed its own unique and diverse culture due to its location and history, Shih said.

The two nations share respect for diverse cultures — “cultural exchanges embody democracy,” he said.

Shih told the Central News Agency that the division has been in operation since the beginning of this year, and is serving as a bridge between Taiwan and Central Europe, a region Taiwan rarely interacted with in the past.

The Czech Republic is one of the most friendly nations to Taiwan and a good reference point for the nation to look up to while expanding on the global stage, he added.

Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil said that launching the division is “the right thing to do,” the ministry said.

The division showed the cultural depth of the two nations, Vystrcil said, adding that the friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic “will surely become stronger and better” as they share the values of democracy, freedom and cultural diversity.

Vystrcil told the Central News Agency that the two sides could organize cultural festivals and the nation’s national museums could hold joint exhibitions.

Representative to the Czech Republic Ke Liang-ruey （柯良叡） said that the establishment of the division is “another milestone” for relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, following the direct flights between Taipei and Prague launched in July.

After the ceremony, Vystrcil led Shih on a tour of the Wallenstein Palace, which houses the Czech Senate, introducing its history, operations and political system.

The two later enjoyed Czech beers at a local bar.

Shih also attended a performance by the Taiwanese group Diabolo Dance Theatre.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES