Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the afternoon of July 8, President Lai Ching-te met with Setaka Tetsuo, Mayor of Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan and Japan are important partners who support each other, and continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and the economy, technology, culture, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Nikko City can build on an already solid foundation to create even more cooperative achievements so that local exchanges can become an important driving force in the steady development of Taiwan-Japan relations.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

This is the first time since taking office last year that Mayor Setaka has led a group of Nikko City citizens to visit Taiwan, which makes it all the more meaningful. Whether as president or former mayor of Tainan, I have always eagerly looked forward to these visits. Tainan and Nikko City have a deep and precious friendship, having established an official “tourism-friendly city” relationship back in 2009. During my term of office as mayor of Tainan, following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, I led a delegation to Nikko City to support local tourism. In 2014 Nikko City also organized a delegation to reciprocate by visiting Taiwan. City residents also launched fund-raising campaigns after the 2016 Tainan earthquake and the 2024 Hualien earthquake to assist Taiwan in post-disaster reconstruction. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude.

Taiwan and Japan have long worked together to address challenges such as typhoons, earthquakes, and epidemics as important partners who support each other. Both sides have actively expanded cooperation in areas such as trade and the economy, technology, culture, and tourism. Last year, total Taiwan-Japan trade exceeded US$84.8 billion, 17.36 percent higher than the year before that, and more than 8.21 million visitors traveled between Taiwan and Japan, a historic high.

I am sure that after Mayor Setaka’s visit, Taiwan and Nikko City can build on our already solid foundation to create even more cooperative achievements so that local exchanges can become an important driving force in the steady development of Taiwan-Japan relations.

Mayor Setaka then delivered remarks, saying that the previous day he led approximately 80 Nikko City residents and tourism industry representatives to visit Tainan, and that Nikko City and Tainan have had a “tourism-friendly city” relationship for 17 years. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, President Lai, then-mayor of Tainan, led 300 Tainan residents to Nikko City to support the local tourism industry, something that Nikko City residents remember to this day, and for which they are deeply grateful.

Mayor Setaka stated that last year Tainan was struck by an earthquake as well as a typhoon, and this year he is leading Nikko City citizens on a special visit to Tainan again, hoping to provide mutual encouragement and support. He also expressed hope of continuing cooperation with Tainan in the future and jointly promoting tourism, sports, culture, and economic exchanges, thereby deepening our bilateral relationship.

The visiting delegation also included Nikko City Council Chair Wada Kiminobu.