Taiwan’s Parliament Speaker Visits Vilnius University

You Si-kun, speaker of Taiwan's parliament, is visiting Lithuania with a delegation. On Saturday, they also visited Vilnius University (VU). The Taiwanese delegation met with the Vice-Rector of Vilnius University, Professor Edita Sužiedėliene, and discussed further cooperation.

"I am very happy about the visit of Taiwan's parliament speaker to Vilnius University and about our rapidly expanding academic relations. The development of both joint research projects and student exchange is already gaining momentum. In order to strengthen the dissemination of Sinology, the library of Vilnius University has started cooperation with the National Central Library of Taiwan. In May, Professor Thomas Chung-Kuang Yang was awarded an honorary doctorate by VU for his contributions to chemical engineering. And these are just a few examples. We can be delighted that the common democratic values are manifesting themselves through the diversity and intensity of relations," says Professor Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of VU.

During the visit, Taiwan's parliament speaker You Si-kun visited the old halls of VU library and, in P. Smuglevičius Hall, discussed bilateral cooperation.

The Taiwanese delegation also visited the Taiwan Resource Centre for Chinese Studies. Last year, VU started an official cooperation with the National Central Library of Taiwan. The partnership was anchored in an agreement, to establish the Taiwan Resource Centre for Chinese Studies and to increase the development of opportunities and access to information in the field of Sinology at Vilnius University.

In order to achieve its objectives, the National Central Library of Taiwan is donating to VU around 500 items of notable literature and audiovisual material published in Taiwan. This continuously growing collection of material will be available in a dedicated space in the Oriental Studies Reading Room. The Taiwan Resource Centre for Chinese Studies will provide access to special e-resources from the Taiwan Library for researchers and students. The VU community will also have the opportunity to participate in seminars, lectures and workshops held by the Taiwan Library.

At the end of the visit, a traditional Guest Book signing ceremony took place.

You Si-kun is a Taiwanese politician who has served as speaker of the parliament since 2020. He co-founded the Democratic Progress Party (DPP) and is known as a strong advocate for Taiwan's independence. He was leader of the DPP from 2006 to 2007 and Prime Minister from 2002 to 2005.

Last autumn, the Taiwanese Representative Office opened in Vilnius. Lithuania is also set to open a representative office in Taipei in 2022.