Following Slovakia's decision to donate 160,000 vaccines against COVID-19 to Taiwan, the Asian country has decided to reciprocate by providing Slovakia with 55,000 thermometers and ten large-format TVs, Economy Ministry State Secretary Karol Galek reported on Tuesday, adding that the gifts will be used in Slovak schools and care homes.
Galek explained that the exchange of donations was initially triggered by Taiwan during the first wave of the pandemic in Slovakia. Taiwan sent Slovakia a total of 700,000 face masks, which were in short supply in Slovakia at the time. When the first wave hit Taiwan significantly later than Slovakia, Bratislava decided to return the favour by gifting 160,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to Taipei.
According to the head of the Taipei Representative Office in Bratislava David Nan-Yang Lee, Slovakia's selfless aid for Taiwan has sparked great interest in Slovakia in his homeland, and several Taiwanese companies were interested in giving something back. In addition to the 55,000 thermometers donated by a medical company, ten TVs were gifted by a Taiwanese TV producer that happens to operate a plant in Slovakia.
