Donations from the people of Taiwan and private sector entities have amounted to more than NT$540 million (US$17.25 million) for earthquake relief and reconstruction in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Jan. 26.
The donations were handed over by Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu to Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama during a press event in Taipei City. Those in attendance included Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Li-feng, as well as representatives from major private sector donors and the Japanese community in Taiwan.
According to the MOFA, the funds follow the 60 million Japanese yen (US$414,412) in earthquake aid delivered Jan. 11 to the JTEA by the MOFA’s Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, in response to the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto region on New Year’s Day.
Wu again expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the government and people to those affected by the earthquake, adding that Taiwan and Japan have been each other’s strong source of support in times of need. The donations underscore the warmth with which people in Taiwan regard their Japanese neighbors, as well as their hope that those in the disaster-stricken areas can return to normal lives as soon as possible, the minister added.
In response, Katayama thanked President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te for their warm messages sent immediately after the disaster. The donations underscore the special bond between the two sides, he said. (SFC-E)
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