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Taiwan and Slovakia hold talks as island strengthens ties with Europe
- It is the highest-level visit by the EU-member country since Slovakia opened a representative office in Taiwan in 2003
- Two-way trade between Taiwan and Slovakia totalled US$250 million in the first nine months of 2021 – up 18.4 per cent from the same period a year earlier
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Senior officials from the Slovak Republic are in Taiwan for talks on deepening ties with the island in the highest-level visit by the EU-member country since it opened a representative office in Taiwan in 2003.
The visit by the delegation, which began on Sunday, follows a mission last month by members of the European Parliament to the self-ruled island, which is claimed by Beijing.
It comes amid growing support for the island, which Beijing says is its territory to be annexed by force if necessary.
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“The fact that we are here today despite the pandemic is because we are determined and committed to working with Taiwan,” said Lucia Kiss, director general for economic and development cooperation at Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Taiwan deploys its most advanced F-16V fighter jets amid rising military tensions with Beijing
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According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, she called Taiwan “one of the most important investors” for the country.
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Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with 15 nations. Countries that maintain those relations face the ire of Beijing’s leaders, who insist that all countries adhere to a one-China policy formally recognising only Beijing.
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