President Tsai receives Japan House Rep. Hagiuda

2022/12/13

President Tsai Ing-wen received Koichi Hagiuda, member of Japan’s House of Representatives, at the Presidential Office Dec. 10 in Taipei City, pledging to continue expanding cooperative ties with Japan across the board to promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific.
 
Extending a warm welcome on behalf of the government and people, Tsai said Hagiuda’s visit was of particular significance as he was the first ruling Liberal Democratic Party policy chief to call on Taiwan in 19 years.
 
According to the president, over recent years relations between Taiwan and Japan have been going from strength to strength. As an example, Tsai cited the 50th anniversary of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association celebrated earlier this month.
 
The annual Global Cooperation and Training Framework Joint Committee Meeting recently staged by the two sides with the U.S. and Australia in Taipei, in which all parties pledged to continue enhanced cooperation in areas including disaster prevention, humanitarian aid and pandemic management, was another mark of the close relationship, she added.
 
Of equal importance was Taiwan’s adjustment to restrictions on food imports from Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture and neighboring areas in February. The development emphasized the government’s commitment to compliance with international standards, Tsai said.
 
The president also took the opportunity to thank the government of Japan for reiterating the importance of cross-strait peace and stability to various international audiences. It is hoped that Japan will support Taiwan’s bid to take part in the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, she added.
 
In response, Hagiuda said Taiwan is an important partner that shares the same fundamental values of freedom, democracy and respect for the rule of law.
 
He said it was an honor for him to visit Taiwan for the Taiwan-Japan Sustainability Symposium to mark 50 years of robust mutual ties and added that he looks forward to an ever-closer relationship.


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