Lukáš Kintr, the Director of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), together with Pavel Štěpáník, the Deputy Director of the Strategic Affairs and Engagement Division, were part of the Czech delegation led by Markéta Pekarová Adamová, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, which visited South Korea and Taiwan between 22 and 29 March 2023. As part of the journey, they participated in numerous meetings with their counterparts or political representatives of the countries concerned. They discussed the security threats facing their countries and their experiences in dealing with them. The visit aimed not only to exchange practical knowledge but also to build and strengthen relations with both countries, which are considered important partners of the Czech Republic. It was also the first-ever visit to both countries by the Director of NÚKIB.
"Despite the considerable geographical distance, I assess the cooperation with both countries as very beneficial and crucial for increasing the security of the Czech Republic," commented Lukáš Kintr, the Director of NÚKIB." Both South Korea and Taiwan are countries with unique expertise in protecting their strategic infrastructure from cyber-attacks. In the context of the security situation, they have immediate experience with the threats under discussion.", Director Kintr added.
The trip commenced with a visit to South Korea, where NÚKIB representatives and their counterparts discussed not only cybersecurity threats but, among others, cybersecurity exercises, cooperation with the private sector, cybersecurity education and training, and information sharing.
The second part of the trip took place in Taiwan. During the meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Digital Affairs of Taiwan, particularly with Deputy Minister Herming Chiueh and Director General of Administration for Cyber Security, Hsieh Tsui-chuan, their discussion revolved around the lack of cybersecurity experts and the possible ways to motivate and promote a working career in public administration. A central theme of the meeting was avoiding strategic dependencies on risky ICT suppliers. As in the meeting with the South Korean officials, there was also a discussion on cyber threats, exercises and possibilities for mutual cooperation, during which it was agreed to implement exchange internships for experts from both countries. As a part of his program on Taiwan, Deputy Director Pavel Štěpáník participated in the "Taiwan-Czech Forum and Democratic Resilience" conference, where he spoke on the "Safeguarding Democratic Institutions: Lessons from Europe and Taiwan" panel. In his presentation, he stressed the importance of cybersecurity, which starts with every technology user. He also talked about supply chain security and the need to consider its strategic perspective, not just the technical one. The final agenda point, before the departure of the Czech delegation, was the meeting with Audrey Tang, the Minister of Digital Affairs, where, among other things, the topics of emerging and disruptive technologies, especially artificial intelligence and quantum cryptography, and the system of education of cybersecurity professionals were also discussed.
"One of the key pillars of the Czech National Cyber Security Strategy is strong and reliable alliances based on mutual trust, shared values and common interests. As part of our international cooperation, we will continue to pay close attention to our partners in the Indo-Pacific region. There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings, which are essential for building strong alliances," commented Lukáš Kintr, the Director of NÚKIB, at the end of the foreign visit.
Celá zpráva
2023-03-29
