President Chen Shui-bian met with Japan's Parliamentarian Hagiuda Koichi on July 11 at the Office of the President.
The president particularly mentioned to Koichi his concern over the recent North Korean missile test. "My administration expressed immediate condemnation of North Korea for its missile test, which truly was a provocative act that has threatened the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asian Pacific region," he said.
"Taiwan also faced China's missile threat when the first direct presidential election was held on the island in 1996," the president said. "Hence Taiwan fully supports the inclusion of Taiwan Strait issues into the strategic objectives targeted by the US-Japan Security Consultative Committee."
The president also thanked Japan for supporting Taiwan's bid to participate as an observer in the World Health Assembly, and for granting Taiwan's travelers to Japan permanent visa-free privileges.
As Kaohsiung City of Taiwan and Hachioji City of Japan are sister cities, through this relationship the president and his guest both looked forward to stronger cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
The president also expressed his best wishes to Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, who currently is visiting Japan.
Hagiuda Koichi's visit to the Office of the President was accompanied by Taiwan's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chang Siao-yue. Secretary-General to the President Mark Chen and Senior Advisor Lin Chen-wei of the National Security Council were also present in the meeting.