New German envoy to Taiwan takes office

Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) Karsten Tietz, who has previously served in Thailand, the United States and Hong Kong, is Germany's new representative to Taiwan, according to the German Institute Taipei.

In a social media post on Friday that included a photo of Tietz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the institute announced the veteran diplomat as the new representative and that he was replacing Jörg Polster, who had served in the role for four years.

Tietz, who took up his post in mid-August, will have the official title of director general of the German Institute Taipei, which serves Berlin's interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

Tietz said on the institute's website that he "would like to contribute to further strengthening our relations, especially in the current uncertain global political environment."

"Germany and Taiwan are partners who share the same values. We believe in freedom, the rule of law, and human rights," he said.

Previously a member of the Hamburg State Legislature, Tietz began working for the German Foreign Service in 2000, according to the information provided by the institute.

He has been posted in the past in Thailand, the U.S. and Hong Kong, and before being assigned to Taiwan, he served as elected chairman of the staff council (Personalrat) of the Federal Foreign Office.

Tietz holds a law degree from the University of Hamburg and a master's in law from Duke University in the U.S.