Vice President Vincent C. Siew on the afternoon of August 12 at the Presidential Building met with Japan Interchange Association Senior Executive Director Mr. Takashi Inoue. The vice president extended a warm welcome to Mr. Inoue on his visit to Taiwan.
Vice President Siew said that the Japan Interchange Association has served as an extremely important window for relations between the two nations, which have not had formal diplomatic ties for over 30 years. He said that those who have served as senior executive director at the Interchange Association over the years have made many contributions to Taiwan-Japan relations. The vice president said he is pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the new senior executive director and has great expectations as to the job he will do.
Vice President Siew said that Senior Executive Director Inoue has a strong background in economics. In the past, he served as the deputy representative at the Interchange Association's Taipei Office and has a deep understanding of Taiwan-Japan affairs. The vice president said he is confident that in his new post, Mr. Inoue will adopt even more pragmatic means to promote relations between the two countries.
The vice president said that Taiwan and Japan have close economic and trade relations. While there are various areas in which cooperation could be further strengthened, the two sides face various challenges in this regard due to the lack of formal diplomatic ties. In light of rapid changes in the international climate, the vice president said he hopes that the two countries will continue to focus on trade and economic issues in the future, and adopt a more pragmatic attitude in strengthening cooperation. He said he feels this would be in the best interests of the people and governments of the two countries.
Senior Executive Director Inoue thanked the vice president for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him. He said that in 1996 he became the deputy representative in the Japan Interchange Association's Taipei Office and at that time had the opportunity to meet with Vice President Siew, who was then serving as premier. He said he is honored to have the chance to meet with the vice president again today.
Senior Executive Director Inoue echoed Vice President Siew's comments, saying that Taiwan-Japan relations should become more pragmatic in the future. He said that under the leadership of President Ma and Vice President Siew, Taiwan is opening a new page in expanding international relations. He added that in this new and changing international climate, Japan will work to strengthen and add depth to the bilateral economic and trade relationship.