MOFA welcomes former PM Yoshiro Mori, Japan delegation to Taiwan

2020/09/21

The visit to Taiwan by former Japan Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and the accompanying delegation is warmly welcomed by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sept. 17.
 
 Arriving Sept. 18, the group members include Keiji Furuya, chairman of Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, and Yasuaki Tanizaki, president of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. They are scheduled to attend the official memorial service for late President Lee Teng-hui, the country’s first democratically elected head of state, Sept. 19 at the chapel of Aletheia University in New Taipei City.
 
 Among the event’s 800 expected attendees are President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President Lai Ching-te, officials, foreign envoys, representatives of political parties, and Lee’s family members and friends. The service will follow disease prevention guidelines issued by the Central Epidemic Command Center, according to the MOFA.
 
 Mori’s trip to Taiwan, which follows a visit Aug. 9 during which he paid respects to Lee at Taipei Guest House, shows his long-standing friendship with the late president and the country, the MOFA said, adding that it also demonstrates the depth of Taiwan-Japan ties.
 
 According to the ministry, the government will build on Lee’s legacy by expanding cooperation and exchanges across the board and further strengthening partnership with Japan.
 
 Other foreign envoys attending the memorial service are Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, and members of the accompanying U.S. delegation that arrived Sept. 17.
 
 Elected as Taiwan’s president in 1996 and dubbed “Mr. Democracy” for his role in ending authoritarian rule, Lee left office in 2000 and passed away at the age of 97 July 30 in Taipei City.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)