Outgoing Japanese Representative to Taiwan Sumio Tarui on Tuesday night said that he cherishes the relationship he developed with the nation over his two-plus years in Taipei, expressing hopes that bilateral ties will continue to grow.
Tarui, who has been posted in Taiwan since April 2012, said he will continue to work to “make Japan remain a good friend of Taiwan” based on the countries’ strong ties in culture, trade and other areas.
Speaking at a farewell reception in Taipei, Tarui recalled his impression of Taiwan shortly after he took up the post as the head of the Taipei Office of Japan’s Interchange Association, which represents Japan’s interests in Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties.
Back then, he was moved by the gesture of a schoolboy, who yielded his seat to the representative on the Taipei MRT. Tarui said that giving up a seat to one’s elders has become a rare practice in Tokyo.
Even today, he has not forgotten the warmth he felt then, he said. It is experiences like that which make him feel “fortunate” working in Taiwan, he added.
Tarui also took the opportunity to express gratitude once again for the post-disaster assistance Taiwan offered following Japan’s disastrous earthquake in March 2011.
He said he was touched by Taiwan’s generous donations and support in the wake of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan’s Tohoku region.
“I will always have warm feelings for Taiwan,” he told the hundreds of attendees at the event, including several Taiwanese government officials and foreign officials based in Taiwan.
After stepping down, he will continue to serve the Interchange Association as a consultant, he said, vowing that he would continue to make efforts to advance bilateral ties.
Taiwan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Shih (石定) then led guests in a toast to Tarui, who he lauded for promoting ties with Taiwan.
Over the past two years, Taiwan and Japan have signed agreements in investment, e-commerce, banking supervision, aviation and fisheries, among others, to the benefit of the people of both countries, Shih said.
The two countries have advanced ties in cultural exchanges, he added, citing the example of an unprecedented exhibition of imperial Chinese treasures from Taiwan’s National Palace Museum that drew many visitors to the Tokyo National Museum — 150,000 as of Monday.
Shih also expressed hope Tarui would continue to help promote ties between Taiwan and Japan.
Mikio Numata will succeed Tarui as Japan’s representative to Taiwan.
The Interchange Association said Numata is set to arrive in Taiwan late this month. Tarui will depart later this week.
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