ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said May 8 that the many breakthroughs in Taiwan-Japan relations over the past five years confirm the special partnership between the two countries.
“Our close ties can be seen in the opening of a Taiwan representative office in Sapporo, Hokkaido, the inking of an open skies agreement and investment protection pact, as well as a fishery rights accord putting aside 40 years of sovereignty disputes regarding the Diaoyutai Islands,” Ma said.
“I look forward to even greater bilateral cooperation going forward.”
The president made the remarks while receiving a delegation led by Yoshiko Y. Nakano, president of Tokyo-headquartered Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Other members included OISCA International Vice Presidents Etsuko Nakano and Toshihiro Nakano.
When the fishery rights agreement takes effect May 10, Ma said, the huge agreed-upon area in which fishermen from both sides can operate without interference will become what the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea refers to as a joint development and management zone.
This temporary arrangement can avoid conflict while not undermining sovereignty and territorial claims, he said, adding that the pact has been well-received internationally.
“Since our government declared the bilateral relationship a special partnership, ties have been developing rapidly,” Ma said. Last year a record 3 million people traveled between the two countries, he noted. “I hope even more Japanese tourists will come to partake of Taiwan’s rich culture and fantastic cuisine.”
The president pointed out that when diplomatic ties were broken off 41 years ago, Yoshiko Y. Nakano’s father, moved by the longstanding friendship between the people of the two nations, made a special trip to Taiwan to help establish the ROC chapter of OISCA International, promoting cooperation in orchard development as well as the metal casting and bicycle industries.
Agricultural collaboration has also continued unabated since that time through the organization’s 4-H Club farm homestay program, Ma said.
OISCA International is dedicated to “community and human resource development through capacity building, agriculture and environmental conservation and restoration,” according to the organization’s website. Founded in 1961, it has chapters in 29 countries and territories. (THN)
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