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President Tsai Ing-wen met with Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Division Director Hajime Sasaki on the morning of August 20. At the meeting, President Tsai emphasized that Taiwan and Japan have long adhered to the values of democracy and freedom. Going forward, she said, she hopes that the stable development of Taiwan-Japan relations will spur increased bilateral cooperation across the board so that together, we can defend democracy and peace within the region.
President Tsai opened her remarks by welcoming delegation leader LDP Youth Division Director Sasaki and his group to Taiwan. She then said she meets with a delegation from the LDP Youth Division every year, and thanked them for the Division's efforts to enhance Taiwan-Japan relations. She was very pleased to meet with such an outstanding group of young Diet members, local elected representatives, and party officials.
President Tsai continued by saying that exchanges between Taiwan and Japan are frequent and close. At the General Assembly of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU) that Taiwan just hosted earlier this month, the largest national delegation of all came from Japan, and was headed by House of Representatives member Shunichi Yamaguchi and one of the delegation members on hand, House of Representatives member Shunsuke Takei.
President Tsai noted that the theme of this year's APPU General Assembly—"Oceans of Democracy and a Sustainable Indo-Pacific"—is an ideal to which Taiwan and Japan have a shared commitment, and that next year's APPU General Assembly will be hosted by Japan. She then said she looks forward to Taiwan and Japan using parliamentary exchanges to spur sustainable development in more countries around the region.
The president also congratulated the LDP for their success in the House of Councillors elections in July. Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's leadership, the LDP has continued to stably govern the country, she said, and his longstanding position has had a very positive impact on the development of Taiwan-Japan relations, and on regional peace and prosperity.
Taiwan has traveled the rocky path to democracy, and like Japan, we have long adhered to the values of democracy and freedom, she said, which is why we care about conditions in Hong Kong and resolutely defend Taiwan's democracy and freedom. We hope that "today's Taiwan can be tomorrow's Hong Kong," the president stated.
President Tsai expressed hope that the outstanding members of the LDP Youth Division will use their influence to ensure stable development of Taiwan-Japan relations, and spur increased bilateral cooperation across the board so that together, we can defend democracy and peace within the region.
President Tsai also emphasized that in a changing global economy, Taiwan hopes to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, led by Japan, and work with other nations to create "multi-win" situations. Taiwan has the ability to make positive contributions to the Japanese and regional economies, she said, and she was very interested in hearing Director Sasaki's suggestions on this front.
In conclusion, President Tsai once again welcomed delegation leader Director Sasaki and his group to Taiwan, wished them a smooth and successful visit, and expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to maintain friendly relations and engage in a full range of cooperative activities.
The visitors also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Mikio Numata.
