Bilateral relations
Poland in Taiwan
Polish Office in Taipei
The Polish Office in Taipei is the official representative office of Poland in Taiwan.
Historical overview
The origins of the Polish Office in Taipei date back to 1992, when due to an agreement between the Ministry of Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries of Poland and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan representative offices in Taipei and Warsaw were to be established. The office began to operate in 1995 under the name Warsaw Trade Office in Taipei.
The office's initial activities focused mainly on developing commercial cooperation between Polish and Taiwanese entrepreneurs. Over time, the office began to promote Polish culture and science and started consular services. In 2018, the office’s name was changed to the Polish Office in Taipei. Currently, the office is responsible for overall relations with Taiwan.
Economic cooperation
Economic and trade relations between Poland and Taiwan are developing dynamically. Taiwan is the seventh largest Polish trading partner in Asia. Poland exports to Taiwan among others include products of the electromechanical industry, chemical industry, as well as food products. Imports from Taiwan to Poland include electromechanical industry products (LCD panels, semiconductors and other electronic components), metallurgical products and motor vehicles and their parts. Trade is characterized by a deficit on the Polish side.
Economic cooperation was positively influenced by the opening of the Foreign Trade Office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in Taipei in September 2018, which aims at promoting economic contacts and support investments.
In recent years, the potential in the area of technological cooperation has also been increasing. During the visit of Minister Grzegorz Piechowiak, an MoU was signed between the Łukasiewicz Research Network, TEEMA, and ITRI (May 2022). In September 2022, the Polish-Taiwanese working group on semiconductors was established. During the visit of Minister Kung Ming-hsin from the National Development Council, an MoU on cooperation in the field of microelectronics was signed between EXATEL S.A. and Chunghwa Telecom (June 2023). Later on, there was an MoU on the creation of a hydrogen group (June 2023), and in September 2023, Poland took part in Semicon Taiwan for the first time.
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Polish Investment and Trade Agency
Consular activities
Since 1997, based on the powers granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan, general and consular assistance are provided to Polish citizens. Other services include visa, legal matters and passports matters. The office organizes Presidential elections, elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and the Senate of the Republic of Poland and to the European Parliament, as well as annual gatherings with Poles and Polish Diaspora. The Polish Office in Taipei offers the same range of consular services as any Polish embassy or consulate.
Cultural cooperation
Mutual contacts in the field of culture are developing rapidly. One of the important missions of the office is to promote Polish history, art, literature, language, music, tourism and sport. We actively support Polish artists and help them reach Taiwanese audiences.
In addition to organizing special events, Poland is present every year at the following regular events:
- Taipei International Book Exhibition;
- Visegrád Group Film Festival (V4 Film Festival);
- European Education Fair Taiwan;
- Invention Fair (Taiwan Innotech Expo);
- International Travel Fair;
- Taiwan European Film Festival.
Exhibitions of Polish graphics and posters, photographs (including Marcin Ryczek), film festivals, classical music concerts, especially Chopin's, and translations of books by Polish authors (including Ryszard Kapuściński, Janusz Korczak, Olga Tokarczuk, Andrzej Sapkowski, Witold Szabłowski, Wisława Szymborska ) are particularly popular in Taiwan. A significant audience is also attracted by regularly organized events, calling for respect for children's rights, including conferences and a touring exhibition entitled 'European Children's Rights. Polish Heritage ” as well as exhibitions highlighting important social and historical matters such as 'Women of Independence' or 'Fathers of Independence'.
Educational and scientific cooperation
The cooperation between Polish and Taiwanese universities and scientific institutions is thriving, especially in the field of science and technology. Cooperation with National Chengchi University (NCCU) offering a special Polish language teaching program implemented by the native Polish teacher delegated by the National Agency for Academic Exchange, as well as with the local Academy of Sciences (Academia Sinica), Fujen Catholic University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan Sports University and Soochow University are worth mentioning. Currently, four universities in Taiwan offer Polish language courses.
Poland is a popular destination among Taiwanese who chose studying abroad. Taiwanese are one of the main groups of foreign students in Poland in the fields of medicine and dentistry. Trips to Poland for full-time, doctoral studies, scientific internships, short-term internships are frequent, as well as trips of academics to Polish universities based on bilateral agreements concluded between universities. Currently, about 1,000 Taiwanese citizens study at Polish universities and colleges.
Scientific cooperation takes place within the framework of a cooperation agreement signed in 2018 in the field of science and higher education. Since 2012, Polish and Taiwanese scientists have had the opportunity to implement joint scientific projects based on an agreement between the National Center for Research and Development and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Recognition of education:
National Agency for Academic Exchange