President Ma Ying-jeou met with a delegation of parliamentarians from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the Presidential Office on the morning of October 20. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), expressed a warm welcome and appreciation to the delegation, which is being led by Member of Parliament Kozo Yamamoto.
President Ma remarked that Taiwan in early August suffered severe flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Morakot. The Japanese government provided 110 million yen in cash and material assistance, and also dispatched experts to the area to assist in rescue and relief work. Meanwhile, donations from Japan's private sector exceeded 250 million yen, making Japan one of the most generous nations in providing support. The president said the people of Taiwan were deeply moved by this generosity. He said he also recalls the large amount of assistance provided by Japan 10 years ago after the September 21, 1999 earthquake.
President Ma said that since taking office he has put great emphasis on relations between Taiwan and Japan. The president commented that many Japanese parliamentarians have visited Taiwan and a series of measures has been adopted to improve bilateral relations. The president specifically pointed out that bilateral fishing negotiations were completed early this year and that a working holiday agreement was signed in June. Meanwhile, the two sides have reached an agreement, under which after a new runway is completed at Tokyo's Haneda Airport next year, there will be four round-trip flights daily between Haneda Airport and Taipei's Songshan Airport. The president also said that Taiwan expects to open a representative office in Sapporo this year to handle affairs related to the 280,000 Taiwan tourists that visit northern Japan every year. Taiwan is also planning to establish a cultural center in Tokyo. President Ma also noted that Japan has begun allowing Taiwan citizens to write "Taiwan" as their nationality on their residence cards.
President Ma stressed that these measures demonstrates that Taiwan has the willingness and the ability to improve relations with Japan. The president said that Taiwan will continue with this policy in its dealings with Japan's new government. The president said he would be pleased to see an exhibition of articles from Taiwan's National Palace Museum in Japan, as suggested by some Japanese lawmakers. President Ma noted, however, that he hopes the Japanese government can pass legislation or amend existing laws regarding the seizure of works of art in order to guarantee the safety of Taiwan's national treasures.
Mr. Yamamoto expressed his appreciation to President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with the delegation. He also, on behalf of Japan's government and parliament, expressed Japan's sympathies regarding the deaths here caused by Typhoon Morakot. He remarked that this delegation is comprised of parliamentarians from both the DPJ and the LDP, which shows that regardless of the change in power in Japan, his nation has every intention of maintaining friendly relations with Taiwan.