President Tsai meets Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and Chairperson of the LDP Policy Research Council Hagiuda Koichi
On the afternoon of October 11, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Hagiuda Koichi, member of the Japanese House of Representatives, chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Policy Research Council, and chief secretary of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council. In remarks, President Tsai stated that in the face of expanding authoritarianism and the challenges of post-pandemic economic recovery and net-zero transition, she hopes that Taiwan and Japan can continue to work together as steadfast partners for regional peace and prosperity.
President Tsai first welcomed Chairperson Hagiuda back to Taiwan following his previous visit in December of last year. She said she was very pleased to meet again with House of Representatives members Matsumoto Yohei, Suzuki Keisuke, and Yamashita Takashi, and warmly welcomed House of Representatives Member Yoshida Shinji on his first visit to Taiwan since his election to the Japanese House of Representatives earlier this year.
The president stated that the delegation members are all good friends of Taiwan who have long cared for our best interests and have worked to improve Taiwan-Japan relations. Noting that the delegation members taking part in this year's National Day parade showed the depth of our bilateral friendship, the president said that she truly appreciated everyone's support for Taiwan.
The president also congratulated Chairperson Hagiuda for continuing his post as chairperson of the LDP Policy Research Council, and thanked him for actively supporting Taiwan-Japan exchanges in his positions as head of the LDP Policy Research Council and of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council. By visiting the Legislative Yuan's Taiwan-Japan parliamentary friendship group, she said, the House members were able to discuss matters of mutual concern to both Taiwan and Japan, and also to lay a foundation for future reciprocal visits.
The president mentioned that in the past few years, with the support of the delegation members and the Japanese government, Japan has provided Taiwan with vaccines to help fight the pandemic, and has also on multiple occasions called on the international community to give attention to the need for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. For these efforts the president expressed special thanks.
The president emphasized that, in the face of expanding authoritarianism and the challenges of post-pandemic economic recovery and net-zero transition, she hopes that Taiwan and Japan can continue to work together as steadfast partners for regional peace and prosperity.
Chairperson Hagiuda then delivered remarks, saying that he wished first of all to thank President Tsai for giving him the opportunity so soon after his visit last December to lead another group of House of Representatives members to visit Taiwan.
Chairperson Hagiuda briefly introduced the members of his delegation. He pointed out that House of Representatives Members Matsumoto and Suzuki had both previously acted as director the LDP Youth Division, and in that position were an important point of contact between Japan and Taiwan. He added that House of Representatives Member Yamashita, deputy chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council, had also served as Minister of Justice and was previously a prosecutor.
Chairperson Hagiuda noted that many people in Taiwan were deeply saddened at the passing of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, and mentioned that House of Representatives delegation member Yoshida was subsequently elected, in his first elected position, to represent the late prime minister's district.
Chairperson Hagiuda said that Taiwan invited the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band to perform at last year's National Day Celebration, and this year invited the marching band of Tokyo University of Agriculture's Second High School, noting that this year's celebration was just as grand as the last one. That groups from Taiwan's important neighbor, Japan, are invited to perform at important celebrations in Taiwan, he said, is a great honor.
Chairperson Hagiuda stated that on the afternoon of the previous day he had visited the city of Kaohsiung, which has deep ties as well as a sister city relationship with his hometown of Hachioji, and while there he laid a floral wreath at a statue of former Prime Minister Abe. Seeing the statue, he said, impressed upon him just how much the people of Taiwan still miss the former prime minister.
Chairperson Hagiuda mentioned that earlier that morning he had delivered a speech at I-Shou University in Kaohsiung on the subject of Taiwan-Japan relations, after which students in the audience engaged in a spirited Q&A session and showed a strong interest in Japan, which surprised him. The chairman expressed hope that those students will help promote exchanges among Taiwanese and Japanese youth in the future, and said he is aware that Taiwan is actively encouraging young people from Japan to visit Taiwan. He said this is an excellent undertaking, and that he hopes to see it succeed.
Chairperson Hagiuda stated that Taiwan and Japan share the same universal values, have close economic cooperation, and engage in frequent reciprocal visits. He said that Taiwan is a very important friend of Japan's, and that the LDP will actively work to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation to further our relations.
Also in attendance at the meeting was Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Izumi Hiroyasu.