Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

At noon on October 10, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Japanese Diet visiting to take part in the National Day Celebration. In remarks, President Lai thanked Japanese House of Representatives Member and Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chairman Furuya Keiji for leading a congratulatory delegation to Taiwan for the National Day Celebration for many years running, demonstrating support for Taiwan through concrete action. He noted that their visits give the people of Taiwan an understanding of the very close relationship between Taiwan and Japan, as well as a sense of security and stability. The president expressed hope that he will be able to meet with the guests often and that the friendship between Taiwan and Japan will be carried forward.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

On behalf of our nation, I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the congratulatory delegation led by Chairman Furuya. Our guests have a tight schedule today and will be leaving for Kaohsiung shortly, so our time together is short.

Chairman Furuya has led a congratulatory delegation to Taiwan for our National Day Celebration for many years running, demonstrating support for Taiwan through concrete action. Seeing the delegation’s arrival gives to the people of Taiwan not only joy but also an understanding of the very close relationship between Taiwan and Japan, as well as a sense of security and stability. Therefore, on behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I would like to once again express our gratitude to all of our friends in the Diet.

I look forward to meeting with all of you next year, the year after, and every year to come. I hope, too, that our time together will not be too brief and that there will be enough of it to share a meal and for me to express my heartfelt gratitude in person. In closing, I wish you all a smooth and successful trip.

Chairman Furuya then delivered remarks, first offering his congratulations on the 115th National Day of the Republic of China and thanking Taiwan for its warm hospitality. He pointed out that this is the first delegation to visit Taiwan since the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council was renamed in June this year to the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council. He also thanked President Lai for conferring on him the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon this July, saying that the honor belongs to all the Japanese Diet members who have dedicated themselves to Taiwan over the years, and that they will continue to do their utmost to promote friendly relations between Taiwan and Japan.

Chairman Furuya mentioned that President Lai’s National Day address earlier in the day conveyed a firm determination to safeguard the peace and security of Taiwan and in the Indo-Pacific region. Close cooperation among Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and other like-minded countries, he said, is essential to safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy and peace and security across the Taiwan Strait. He noted that the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members’ Consultative Council is also actively promoting various initiatives through several task forces. Last year, he said, it succeeded in allowing the listing of “Taiwan” in the field designating nationality or region of origin in Japan’s family registry system, and it is now encouraging junior and senior high school students in Japan to take their graduation trips to Taiwan, a concrete action to pass on the Taiwan-Japan friendship to the next generation.

Also in attendance were Japanese House of Representatives Member Ryu Hirofumi, House of Representatives Member Kaneko Yasushi, House of Councillors Member Yamatani Eriko, House of Councillors Member Yamamoto Junzo, House of Representatives Member Inoue Shinji, House of Councillors Member Kitamura Tsuneo, House of Representatives Member Azuma Toru, House of Representatives Member Nagasaka Yasumasa, House of Representatives Member Inoue Hidetaka, House of Representatives Member Usami Noboru, House of Representatives Member Yoshida Shinji, House of Councillors Member Ishii Megumi, House of Representatives Member Kitagami Keiro, House of Representatives Member Wada Masamune, House of Representatives Member Hosoda Kenichi, House of Representatives Member Ishikawa Akimasa, House of Representatives Member Ihara Takumi, House of Representatives Member Saiki Takeshi, House of Councillors Member Umemura Mizuho, House of Representatives Member Kawano Masami, House of Representatives Member Nishioka Yoshitaka, House of Councillors Member Iwamoto Mana, House of Councillors Member Yamada Yoshihiko, House of Councillors Member Seki Hei, House of Representatives Member Dobashi Akihiro, and House of Representatives Member Kobayashi Syuhei. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Deputy Representative Mizobuchi Masashi.