After concluding her visit to Lithuania, former President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Tsai Ing-wen is set to travel to Denmark next. Tsai’s office stated that following her visit to Copenhagen, Denmark, she will be invited to the UK to interact with politicians and professionals in the UK and engage with various academic research institutions.
On May 9, Tsai Ing-wen embarked on her European tour to Lithuania and Denmark. During her time in Vilnius, Lithuania, she delivered a speech at Vilnius University and held discussions with former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Tsai took to Facebook to express her aim of providing European friends with a deeper understanding of Taiwan and strengthening the ties between Taiwan and Europe.
Speaking about Lithuania, Tsai remarked, “Lithuania is a country with a rich history and culture, and its people are resilient and brave, which I deeply respect during this visit. Despite the geographical distance between Taiwan and Lithuania, both countries face geopolitical challenges and security threats from powerful neighbors. Yet, we both choose to uphold the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights.”
Tsai highlighted the significant friendship between Taiwan and Lithuania established through trade, technology, education, and emphasized the unity in democracy. She expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Taiwan Friendship Group, Ruslanas Baranovas, and all parliament members for their support, as well as the steadfast support from the Lithuanian government and people towards Taiwan, and their joint efforts in upholding democratic values.
Additionally, Tsai visited Leafood, a startup agricultural technology company established through cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania. Founded two years ago, Leafood is currently the largest vertical farm in all of Europe with a total planting area of 4,000 square meters, producing around 1,000 kilograms of vegetables daily, approximately 10% of Lithuania’s daily vegetable demand. Tsai noted that with Lithuania’s cold winters, the vertical farm operates year-round, unaffected by climate, helping reduce Lithuania’s dependence on imports.
She expressed confidence in the continued cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania to promote flourishing democracies and contribute to a more peaceful and equitable future for the world. Tsai also expressed hope for further deepening relations between the two countries, with Taiwan receiving increased support and closer collaboration.
After concluding her visit to Lithuania, Tsai will proceed to Copenhagen, Denmark, to attend the 8th Copenhagen Democracy Summit and deliver a speech conveying Taiwan’s commitment to continued cooperation with democratic allies.
According to a press release from Tsai’s office, following her visit to Copenhagen, Tsai will be invited to the UK for a several-day visit, during which she will engage with politicians and professionals in the UK and participate in exchanges with multiple academic research institutions.
Tsai’s spokesperson, Tsai Shu-ching, emphasized that Taiwan and the UK are democracy partners sharing universal values such as democracy, freedom, and human rights. Reflecting on Tsai’s past eight years in office, Taiwan and the UK have had many meaningful exchanges and collaborations in various fields, leading to significant progress in bilateral relations. Tsai’s upcoming visit to the UK Parliament, at the kind invitation of British friends, not only underscores the importance placed on Taiwan-UK relations but also aims to further deepen the friendly relations between Taiwan and the UK through this visit.