During her fifth visit to Prague, former Ambassador at Large Maysing Yang met with vocal pro-Taiwan officials in the country. They included Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil and Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib. Both Czech politicians voiced support for Taiwan and called for closer bilateral exchanges. FTV reporter Stephany Yang is in Prague with this exclusive report.

Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil shakes hands with former Ambassador at Large Maysing Yang. He thanked her for donating a piano to a concert hall in the Czech Republic and for furthering the Czech-Taiwan friendship.

Milos Vystrcil
Czech Senate president
I’m grateful that we had the opportunity to visit Taiwan. It’s thanks to it, that our relationship is stronger. This is a hug for the people of Taiwan. You gave us more than just a piano. It''s about strengthening the bonds between us.

Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil repeated a line that caught headlines during his Taiwan visit in 2020: “I am Taiwanese.” The statement had angered China, prompting a Chinese importer to cancel a NT$7 million order for 11 pianos it had placed with a Czech piano maker. Yang purchased one of the instruments and donated it to the Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Prague.

Maysing Yang
Former ambassador at large
In your speech in our parliament, you said, “I am Taiwanese.” I also want to say, “I’m Czech.”

Milos Vystrcil
Czech Senate president
People on social media still call me a Taiwanese. I am now also a Ukrainian.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Former Ambassador at Large Maysing Yang came to the Prague City Hall to meet with the Prague mayor to discuss ways that Taiwan and the Czech Republic can further their relations.

Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib made time in his packed schedule to meet with Yang and Ke Liang-ruey, the director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague. The mayor told them that he had recently spoken about his experiences living in Taiwan at a press conference.

Zdenek Hrib
Mayor of Prague
I had an opening press conference for Prague Spring Festival. I mentioned a story that happened to me when I was in Taiwan in 2005.

Hrib said he was very optimistic about future exchanges between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, especially in music, technology, education, and the circular economy. He added that Taiwan''s tech industry was very advanced. He expressed hope that the Industrial Technology Research Institute would open an office in the Czech Republic.

Zdenek Hrib
Mayor of Prague
It would be great to have the branch of the ITRI that we visited in Taiwan. That would be great because there is going to be a few branches in Taiwan coming.

Maysing Yang
Former ambassador at large
The mayor of Prague and the Czech Senate speaker brought a delegation of more than 80 people to Taiwan. Back then, the speaker said “I am a Taiwanese” at the Legislative Yuan, and the mayor said “I am a Taipei citizen.” We were very moved. They have a very similar history to us. I felt that from the very beginning.

This is Yang’s fifth time visiting the Czech Republic. During her meetings with local officials, both sides voiced hope for a stronger friendship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Stephany Yang and Huang Yu-chun in the Czech Republic.