Taipei: Minister-President of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, is set to arrive in Taiwan on Sunday for a four-day visit, marking the first instance of a German federal state head visiting the island. This development was announced by the German Institute Taipei in a news release on Saturday.
According to Focus Taiwan, Kretschmer’s visit will last from Sunday to next Wednesday and is part of a larger Asia tour that includes stops in Japan and Singapore. The German Institute Taipei, which manages Germany’s interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, confirmed that Kretschmer’s delegation will include key figures such as Economic Affairs Minister Dirk Panter and Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow, alongside members of the state parliament and local officials.
The visit underscores Saxony’s intent to strengthen ties with Taiwan across various sectors, including science, business, and culture. The delegation will include representatives from the business and academic communities, highlighting the comprehensive nature of this diplomatic engagement.
A key focus of Kretschmer’s visit will be a meeting with TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei to discuss the significant project of establishing a semiconductor plant in Dresden, Saxony’s capital. The delegation’s itinerary also includes the opening of a Saxony-Taiwanese science conference, a keynote address at the Siemens Taiwan Sustainability Summit, discussions on cultural collaboration with the National Palace Museum, and Kretschmer serving as a guest of honor at the German National Day reception in Taipei.
