President Tsai meets delegation led by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Youth Division Director Hajime Sasaki
On the morning of December 25 President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Hajime Sasaki, Director of the Youth Division of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and a member of the Japanese House of Representatives. During the meeting, she expressed hope that Japan will support Taiwan's entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and that Taiwan and Japan will continue to engage in a broad range of cooperative projects. Moving forward hand-in-hand, she said, both countries can achieve even greater success.
In remarks, the president noted that Mr. Sasaki assumed the position of director of the LDP Youth Division in September this year, and that leading a delegation of new officers to Taiwan so soon thereafter demonstrates the importance he places on Taiwan-Japan relations. She said she was happy to host Mr. Sasaki again, and offered a sincere welcome to the visiting Diet members.
The president pointed out that the LDP Youth Division is an important channel for exchanges between the LDP and Taiwan, and that previous directors have all placed great emphasis on relations with Taiwan. She expressed confidence that under Mr. Sasaki's leadership, these positive traditions will continue, and our concerted efforts will bring about closer, more comprehensive relations.
Noting that Taiwan and Japan are close neighbors working together to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President Tsai said that our security situations are intimately related, a "community of shared destiny." Taiwan and Japan have both experienced severe natural disasters in recent years, and when faced with these challenges, have provided mutual assistance and deepened their friendship. She said she looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation in disaster preparedness and mitigation, establishment of disaster response facilities, and manpower training.
The president pointed out that friendly relations and close cooperation between Taiwan and Japan have great strategic significance for the region. She hopes Taiwan and Japan can use a variety of channels to enhance their friendship at all levels so that we can achieve even more through cooperation.
The president also expressed hope that Taiwan's friends in Japan will support Taiwan's entry into the CPTPP, and that the results of the recent referendum on food imports will not affect close bilateral cooperation. She added that Taiwan will continue to pursue a wide range of cooperative projects with Japan.
President Tsai said that Taiwan and Japan are key partners that share the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law. As a member of the international community, Taiwan will actively seek to participate in international organizations to fulfill its responsibilities and contribute to international society. The president thanked our friends throughout Japanese society for speaking up for Taiwan, and said she hopes Mr. Sasaki and the Diet members present will continue to support and assist Taiwan.
In closing, after once again welcoming the delegation, the president said every interaction brings Taiwan and Japan closer together, and added her hope for even more opportunities for bilateral exchanges.
The visitors included House of Representatives members Fumiaki Kobayashi, Kentaro Asahi, Shunsuke Takei, and Karen Makishima, as well as Shigehiro Nishiumi, Deputy Representative at the Taipei Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.