TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is working to make it easier for Taiwanese to work in the Czech Republic, Taiwan’s representative to the Czech Republic Ke Liang-ruey (柯良叡) said recently.

Taiwan is in talks with the Czech Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to increase work and investment opportunities for Taiwanese in the Czech Republic, Ke said, per CNA. Taiwan is urging the Czech Republic to secure work permit exemptions for Taiwanese, he said.

The Czech government announced on June 7 that citizens from nine non-EU countries, including the U.S. and South Korea, will no longer require work permits beginning next month. However, Taiwan was not included due to the Czech Republic not officially recognizing it as a sovereign country.

Taiwan and the Czech Republic have deepened bilateral ties in recent years and cooperate in many fields such as science, technology, and culture. The Czech Center Taipei opened last week, marking a milestone in Taiwan-Czech relations. It aims to provide Taiwanese with a better understanding of the central European country.