Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian expressed his appreciation Monday to Hiroshi Nakai, a member of the lower house of the Japanese Diet, or parliament, for his help in arranging a visit by Republic of China Justice Minister Chen Ding-nan to Japan last July.
The president said that Nakai -- who himself is a former justice minister -- helped arrange Chen's visit and his meeting with Justice Minister Toranosuke Moriyama, the first such meeting between a ROC justice minister and his Japanese counterpart since the two countries severed diplomatic relations in 1972.
The president said that he was happy to meet with the Japanese Liberal Party member and expressed hope that he could one day meet with the party's president, Ichiro Ozawa.