President Tsai Ing-wen received Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chair Mitsuo Ohashi at her official residence Dec. 11 in Taipei City, pledging to continue working with Japan for the good of the international community.
According to the president, the two sides’ relationship has grown closer in both the public and private sectors in recent years, as demonstrated by their joint efforts to combat COVID-19 and enhance economic ties. She also cited as evidence the fact that two-way trade and Japanese investment in Taiwan both hit an all-time high last year.
Taiwan’s inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership would maximize synergies and benefit bilateral relations as well as the entire regional economy, Tsai said, adding that she looked forward to Japan’s continued support of the country’s bid.
Tsai took the opportunity to thank the Japanese government for publicly backing Taiwan’s participation in international bodies such as the World Health Organization, most recently in the statement released following the Group of Seven Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that Japan chaired earlier this year.
The president also wished for fruitful outcomes at the Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Conference and the Taiwan-Japan Commission on Cooperation in Third Country Markets, which Ohashi will attend over the next two days.
In response, Ohashi said Taiwan deserves global praise for its dedication to democratic ideals, adding that this allows it reciprocal interaction with democratic countries around the world. He expressed high regard for Tsai’s work to raise Taiwan’s international visibility and hoped for the country’s successful engagement in the CPTPP. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News