Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun received Keisuke Suzuki and Yasutaka Nakasone of Japan’s House of Representatives July 16 in Taipei City, pledging to expand cooperation with the partner country in areas spanning artificial intelligence, clean energy technology and smart health care.
According to Cheng, Taiwan and Japan are key technological partners that share fundamental values, as evidenced by the new fabrication plant set up in Kumamoto prefecture by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The site is slated for further expansion, she said, adding that the development bodes well for increased bilateral cooperation in application development, high-tech sector services, manufacturing and research.
Citing polls conducted by both sides, Cheng said nearly 70 percent of those surveyed see the other country as their closest partner nation. Examples of this special bond include a total trade volume of US$75 billion and over 5 million reciprocal visits recorded last year, she said, adding that consumers in Japan can enjoy more quality produce from Taiwan after the first shipment of locally grown red dragon fruit arrived in Japan earlier this month.
The vice premier took the opportunity to thank the government of Japan for its continuous support for cross-strait peace expressed in its national defense documents and Diplomatic Bluebook.
As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will do its best to promote democracy and peace, enhance its self-defense capabilities and work with its like-minded partners to ensure stability in the region, Cheng said. The two legislators’ efforts to advance the Taiwan-Japan relationship are sincerely appreciated by the government and people, she added.
In response, Suzuki said both sides face many similar pressing issues, such as declining birth rates and the need to attract and retain foreign personnel, reduce reliance on the Chinese market and enhance food supply resilience. Despite recent geopolitical challenges, the lawmaker expects Japan and Taiwan to continue working closely across the board for the benefit of people on both sides.
Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)
