September 13, 2025
NO. 335
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a delegation to the Czech Republic from September 11 to 13. The delegation on September 11 attended the opening ceremony for 100 Treasures, 100 Stories, a special exhibition of Taiwan’s National Palace Museum (NPM) at the National Museum of the Czech Republic. The exhibition is a highlight of the Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 initiative and demonstrates the close ties between Taiwan and Europe in terms of cultural values.
At the opening event, Minister Lin was joined by Minister of Culture Li Yuan, Director of the NPM Hsiao Tsung-huang, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Johnny Chiang, and Legislators Yang Chiung-ying, Chen Hsiu-pao, and Lin Yi-chun, as well as friends from the Czech Republic and across Europe, including Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová.
The attendees enjoyed a performance by the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (NCO), which was arranged with assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). At the special exhibition, they admired such world-renowned NPM treasures as the Jadeite Cabbagesculpture and the Along the River During the Qingming Festival painting. During the reception, the attendees had the opportunity to interact with one another.
To ensure the safety of the NPM cultural relics on display, MOFA and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague engaged in negotiations with Czech officials for over a year, leading to the Czech Republic amending its law protecting national heritage in April 2024. This achievement underscored the importance that the two countries attach to cultural exchanges.
In addition, Minister Lin watched a performance of the NCO’s musical Formosa Roadside Wedding Banquet at the Czech Museum of Music on September 12. The performance, which integrated traditional Taiwanese folk music and opera, fully showcased Taiwanese culinary culture and received enthusiastic applause and wide acclaim from the audience.
Since assuming office, Minister Lin has leveraged integrated diplomacy to strengthen links between Taiwan and Europe in fields ranging from technology to culture. The Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 initiative has sought to underscore the core values of freedom, openness, inclusiveness, and diversity shared by Taiwan and Europe and connect the democratic camp through culture.
MOFA will continue to work with the Ministry of Culture, the NPM, and other relevant agencies to deepen Taiwan’s exchanges with the Czech Republic and the rest of Europe through cultural activities, thereby enhancing bilateral relations and linkages through common values. (E)
