Sumio Tarui, new head of Japan’s Interchange Association Taipei Office, commenced duties May 10, vowing to bolster close Taipei-Tokyo ties through expanding cultural and economic exchanges.
“This position comes with great responsibilities and I will strive to take relations from strength to strength,” Tarui said at his welcoming reception in Taipei City.
Tarui, 64, who took over from Tadashi Imai in late April, said the people of Taiwan are as warm as they were 40 years ago when he was posted to the island on his first overseas assignment.
Joining Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1971, Tarui has since served as ambassador in charge of Okinawa affairs, envoy to Beijing and permanent representative to the U.N. Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
Also attending were Lien Chan, former ROC vice president, Liao Liou-yi, chairman of Taipei-based Association of East Asian Relations, Tsai De-sheng, director-general of the National Security Bureau, and Philip Yang, minister of the Government Information Office.
Liao said Tarui boasts a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan-Japan ties, adding that he expects him to play a key role in strengthening the special relationship shared by the two countries.
In a statement, Imai—now IA president—congratulated Tarui on his new position and vowed to continue promoting bilateral exchanges.
The AEAR and IA are tasked with overseeing Taiwan-Japan ties in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, which were severed by Tokyo in September 1972. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at rachelchan@mail.gio.gov.tw