Vice Premier receives Katayama Kazuyuki, chief representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun on Thursday received Katayama Kazuyuki, chief representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's Taipei Office. The vice premier said that since taking office in November 2023, Chief Representative Katayama has actively promoted friendly exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. After the earthquake that struck Hualien County on April 3, the chief representative organized a group tour of Hualien by Japanese living in Taiwan as a concrete way to show care and support for the local community, fully displaying the spirit of mutual support upon which the Taiwan-Japan friendship is founded.

Vice Premier Cheng remarked that three key national security documents published by the Japanese government in 2022- the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program-as well as Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook, all raise the importance to Japan of a peaceful Taiwan Strait. In addition, world leaders have repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the strait, such as in a communique from the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023, a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers in November 2023, and a joint leaders' statement from a U.S.-Japan summit in April 2024. As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will strive to safeguard the status quo and contribute to upholding regional peace, and looks forward to working together with Japan to realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In his remarks, Chief Representative Katayama said Japan and Taiwan are not only economic partners, but also share very close cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges. Although it has only been a few months since he assumed his post in Taiwan, Chief Representative Katayama has genuinely felt the nation's support and assistance, and he will continue doing what he can to promote friendship and trust on both sides to advance the Japan-Taiwan relationship.