A 15-member delegation from Slovenia's ruling Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) wrapped up a five-day visit to Taiwan on July 17, in a trip that Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said was personally encouraged by Prime Minister Janez Janša and marks "an important step" toward more pragmatic cooperation between Taipei and Ljubljana.
The group — including SDS lawmakers Anja Bah Žibert, Andrej Poglajen, and Luka Simonič, along with officials from the party's youth wing — arrived on July 13, less than two months after Janša was sworn in for a fourth term as prime minister.
Lin Targets Drones, Chips, and Defense Technology for Cooperation
Lin hosted the delegation at a luncheon on July 15, where the two sides discussed trade, public health, higher education, and cultural exchanges, according to a statement released July 17 by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lin told his guests that Taiwan's economic ties with the European Union are deepening, with several major Taiwanese manufacturers already operating production bases in Europe. As an EU member state, he said, Slovenia offers strong potential for industrial cooperation with Taiwan in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, drones, and defense technology. He added that Taiwan's government and private sector would continue working with like-minded countries to build secure and resilient democratic supply chains.
Writing on social media, Lin revealed that the visit came about at Janša's own encouragement. The prime minister, he said, wanted young members of his party to see Taiwan's democratic development, technological strength, and social resilience firsthand, so they could become a driving force in future exchanges.
Janša's Fourth Term Revives a Taiwan-Friendly Government in Ljubljana
The visit follows a political turnaround in the Central European country. Slovenia held parliamentary elections in late March, and although the incumbent Freedom Movement (GS) edged out the SDS by a single seat with 29, two months of deadlock and coalition talks ended with Janša returning as prime minister at the head of a center-right alliance. He took office on May 22.
Janša has long been one of Taiwan's most vocal friends in Europe. He has visited the island several times, publicly backed Lithuania in 2021 when Vilnius came under Chinese pressure over its ties with Taipei, and disclosed before losing power in 2022 that his government was in talks with Taiwan on opening reciprocal representative offices.
Youth Delegates Cast as the Foundation of Future Ties
Bah Žibert said at the luncheon that the younger generation is a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, and that Taiwan's development experience holds lessons for the international community. Bringing the party's youth wing on the trip, she said, would deepen young Slovenians' understanding of Taiwan, and she voiced hope for stronger exchanges across politics, trade, public health, education, and the arts.
During their stay, the delegation met with the Mainland Affairs Council — Taiwan's top China policy body — the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the International Trade Administration under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, and the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research. The group also traveled to Hsinchu and Taichung for industrial and municipal visits before departing on July 17.
