President Lai Ching-te noted that Taiwan would continue to advance its economy and national defense capabilities while collaborating with Japan and other like-minded partners to promote global democracy, peace and prosperity.
Lai made the remarks during his meeting with a delegation led by Keiji Furuya, chair of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, March 17 at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
Under Furuya’s leadership, the group annually passes resolutions to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the president said, adding that the council has established research panels on the CPTPP, female legislator exchanges, local-level exchanges and the Taiwan Relations Act to strengthen bilateral links.
Lai noted that starting from May this year, Taiwan expatriates in Japan can register as Taiwan nationals and thanked the group for facilitating the change. The president also took the opportunity to echo Furuya’s remarks made during the latter’s speech at the Yushan Forum, in which the lawmaker expressed hope of continuing to deepen bilateral partnership in artificial intelligence, drones, energy, semiconductors and supply chain resilience.
In response, Furuya praised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s investment in Kumagaya for enhancing regional prosperity and vowed to keep working with Taiwan in the important areas of diplomacy and security while jointly combating cyberattacks.
Last year reciprocal visits hit a record high, Furuya said, adding that he encourages more Japanese middle and high school students to take educational trips to Taiwan. (POC-E)
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