Czech envoy says Taiwan partnership in Ukraine sets global example

Rome, July 11 (CNA) The Czech government envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Tomáš Kopečný, said Friday that Czech-Taiwan collaboration helping Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression is a global "model" of democratic solidarity.

At the same time, Kopečný underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation on drone technology, saying the emerging field could play a crucial role in defending against authoritarian threats from Russia and China.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Italy, Kopečný told CNA that Czech-Taiwan cooperation in Ukraine represents high-impact aid provided by democracies in the most war-torn areas and was "a role model for the whole world."

His comments echoed Czech President Petr Pavel's remarks delivered a day earlier at the same venue, where he praised his country's joint projects with Taiwan to help Ukraine.

According to Kopečný, the aid projects jointly supported by Czechia and Taiwan include a water treatment facility serving approximately 380,000 people and a cogeneration system providing electricity and heating to roughly 100,000 in Ukraine.

Data from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Taiwan and the Czech Republic have signed three cooperation deals focused on providing water and power facilities and enhancing Ukraine's healthcare services.

Kopečný said the Czech government had been guiding Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and private-sector actors working on the ground in Ukraine, but he also noted that bilateral collaboration could extend beyond humanitarian aid.

Looking ahead, he continued, drone technology should be a key area of focus, given that drones have been used extensively by both Ukraine and Russia during the protracted conflict.

Taiwanese and Czech companies have collaborated on drone development for several years, he said, adding that it would only be logical for both sides to "take lessons" from the Ukraine battlefield, without elaborating.

According to Kopečný, Ukraine has limited the Russian navy's access to and operations in the Black Sea through the use of drone and missile attacks, along with other measures, enabling it to continue trading with the world.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference, which brought together government leaders, parliamentarians and private-sector representatives to discuss Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction, was held in Rome on Thursday and Friday.