Kosovo–Taiwan relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Taiwan. Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February 2008, and Taiwan officially recognized Kosovo in February 2008.
Kosovo |
Taiwan |
---|
History
editDuring the Kosovo War in 1998–1999, the government of Taiwan under president Lee Teng-hui donated US$300 million in aid to Kosovo for refugee relief and reconstruction.[1]
After the Kosovan declaration of independence, the Taiwanese foreign ministry announced that it officially recognized Kosovo in February 2008.[2] Taiwan became the first Asian country to recognize Kosovo,[3] even though Kosovo did not reciprocate recognition. Due to wanting China's support in the United Nations, the Kosovan government merely thanked Taiwan.[4]
In December 2021, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan and the Kosovan Assembly established parliamentary diplomacy groups to deepen relations between the two countries.[5] In 2023, nine members from the Kosovo-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group visited Taiwan to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other cabinet officials in Kosovo's first parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.[5]
In March 2024, Kaohsiung and Pristina established sister city relations, with Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi-mai and Pristina mayor Përparim Rama signing the agreement during a Pristina delegation's four-day visit to Kaohsiung.[6] Former prime minister Avdullah Hoti led a delegation to Taiwan the following month.[3]
Aid and development
editThe Taiwanese government offered US$300 million to Kosovo for refugee relief.[1] In addition, it donated over 100 buses with the words "Love from Taiwan" on them, drawing criticism from China.[4]
The Private Sector Youth Initiative, an economic development program run by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to tackle youth unemployment in Kosovo, is co-sponsored by the Taipei Representative Office in Hungary. At a fair, the Taiwanese representative to Hungary met with the EBRD's Kosovo office to expand cooperation.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Sung, Catherine (13 December 1999). "Association says Albania in tug-of-war over Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Hsu, Jenny (20 February 2008). "Taiwan officially recognizes Kosovo, James Huang says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b Chen, Kelvin (18 April 2024). "Taiwan Legislative speaker seeks more exchanges with Kosovo". Taiwan News. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b Chang, Chih-chien (16 February 2018). "只記得公車!科索沃獨立10週年 台灣捐3億美金沒人知". SET News. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ a b Chen, Kelvin (13 March 2023). "Kosovo parliamentary delegation in Taiwan for 1st time ever". Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Kaohsiung, Kosovo's capital Pristina become sister cities". Focus Taiwan. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Leskovsky, Filip (16 November 2023). "Taiwan co-sponsors program to tackle youth unemployment in Kosovo". Radio Taiwan International. Retrieved 26 May 2024.