Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On June 3, 2026, Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang attended the unveiling ceremony of Havel’s Place at Daan Forest Park, where he joined Czech Republic President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil in officially unveiling the installation. Havel’s Place is part of a global initiative created to commemorate former Czech President Václav Havel. The first installation was unveiled in Washington DC in 2013, and similar installations have since been established in major cities around the world, including Prague, Dublin, Venice, Lima, Helsinki, Lisbon, Milan, and Paris. This unveiling event in Taipei marks the opening of the 61st Havel’s Place worldwide and the third in Asia.

In his remarks, Chiang expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the project possible, as well as to Vystrčil for making this special trip to Taiwan to witness this major occasion. Noting that this year marks the 90th anniversary of Havel’s birth, Chiang highlighted that this unveiling event not only pays tribute to Havel’s legacy but also symbolizes the deep friendship between Taipei and the Czech Republic.

Chiang further mentioned that Havel embodied the spirit of the Czech Republic’s democratization and shared a profound connection with Taiwan. Approximately 22 years ago, Havel was awarded an honorary doctorate by National Chengchi University, and today the public is gathered to witness the official unveiling of Havel’s Place in Taipei.

Chiang noted that the spirit embodied by Havel was the belief that even when people hold different views, they should still be willing to sit down and engage in dialogue. He emphasized that this is the essence of democracy. In 2023, the Taipei City Government received a proposal from the Czech Economic and Cultural Office to identify a suitable location in Taipei for the installation of Havel’s Place. After numerous parks across the city were considered, Daan Forest Park was ultimately selected.

Chiang added that the Taipei City Government considered how the surrounding landscape could reflect Taipei’s humanistic character and warm hospitality. Consequently, the city proposed planting a flowering tree beside the installation. He further mentioned that it was a great honor that Havel’s widow personally selected this site. She was deeply moved by the inclusive atmosphere of Daan Forest Park, where people from all walks of life gather and the sounds of residents’ laughter fill the space, and she chose the crape myrtle as the tree to accompany the installation.

In his remarks, Chiang thanked David Steinke, representative of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office, who personally visited the site last year to assess the proposed location. From the initial proposal and site selection to the design plans and even the final discussion over the choice of a single tree (made across half the globe), the project reflected the close collaboration between both sides. Chiang noted that the installation represents more than just a piece of public art; it symbolizes the strong and enduring relationship between Taipei and the Czech Republic.

Chiang stated that Havel’s Place embodies the democratic spirit of dialogue. More importantly, he mentioned that dialogue enables people to foster a mutual understanding, bridge differences, build trust, and lay the foundation for deeper cooperation. This principle should apply not only among democratic partners but also among different political parties in Taiwan. He further expressed his belief that this approach would enable both Taipei and Taiwan to move forward with confidence while ultimately benefiting the public.

Chiang also commented that Taipei’s Havel’s Place is the third installation in Asia, following those in Seoul, South Korea, and Hiroshima, Japan. He asserted Taipei is deeply honored to host this installation, and he encouraged residents to visit Daan Forest Park, take a seat at Havel’s Place, and reflect on Havel’s famous words: “Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.”