President Lai Ching-te presented the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon to Mitsuo Ohashi, former chair of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association June 27 in recognition of his contributions to advancing Taiwan-Japan relations.
During a ceremony hosted at the Presidential Office in Taipei City, Lai said Ohashi is not just a good friend of Taiwan, but someone who cares for Taiwan like a family member. Lai cited Ohashi’s presence in Tainan City after a major earthquake struck southern Taiwan in 2016, as the latter tried to assess the situation with a view to offering assistance.
The president quoted Ohashi’s remarks on bilateral relations between Taiwan and Japan possibly being the best in the entire world and that may serve as a model to other countries. The two countries have signed over 50 major agreements over the past 14 years, spanning economy and trade, fisheries and taxes and much more, Lai said, adding that the name changes of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in 2017 also strengthened the significance of the bilateral relationship.
Lai went on to express hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen their partnership, bringing about early signing of an economic partnership agreement and expanding collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy and semiconductors. Taiwan is also committed to working with Japan to continue building secure and stable non-red supply chains, boost economic resilience and competitiveness and safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, he said.
In response, Ohashi said that he will serve as the chair of the World Federalist Movement of Japan after stepping down from the JTEA position. He stressed that neither Taiwan nor Japan possesses nuclear weapons, which is something to be proud of, and anticipated that the two can work together to promote world peace.
Following the ceremony, Ohashi met with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung in Taipei. Lin thanked the Japanese government for reiterating the importance of cross-strait peace and stability while supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations in the U.S.-Japan Leaders’ Summit and G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting earlier this year. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
During a ceremony hosted at the Presidential Office in Taipei City, Lai said Ohashi is not just a good friend of Taiwan, but someone who cares for Taiwan like a family member. Lai cited Ohashi’s presence in Tainan City after a major earthquake struck southern Taiwan in 2016, as the latter tried to assess the situation with a view to offering assistance.
The president quoted Ohashi’s remarks on bilateral relations between Taiwan and Japan possibly being the best in the entire world and that may serve as a model to other countries. The two countries have signed over 50 major agreements over the past 14 years, spanning economy and trade, fisheries and taxes and much more, Lai said, adding that the name changes of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in 2017 also strengthened the significance of the bilateral relationship.
Lai went on to express hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen their partnership, bringing about early signing of an economic partnership agreement and expanding collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy and semiconductors. Taiwan is also committed to working with Japan to continue building secure and stable non-red supply chains, boost economic resilience and competitiveness and safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, he said.
In response, Ohashi said that he will serve as the chair of the World Federalist Movement of Japan after stepping down from the JTEA position. He stressed that neither Taiwan nor Japan possesses nuclear weapons, which is something to be proud of, and anticipated that the two can work together to promote world peace.
Following the ceremony, Ohashi met with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung in Taipei. Lin thanked the Japanese government for reiterating the importance of cross-strait peace and stability while supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations in the U.S.-Japan Leaders’ Summit and G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting earlier this year. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News