Shuzo Sumi, former chairman of Japan’s Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc, is the new chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association following the retirement of Mitsuo Ohashi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
In his inaugural address on Friday, Sumi praised his predecessor, Ohashi, for his significant contributions in strengthening Japan-Taiwan exchanges during his 14-year tenure, the association’s Web site said.
Sumi said that the Japan-Taiwan relationship is at it strongest, citing a survey conducted by the association in Taiwan last year, in which 76 percent of respondents selected Japan as their favorite country outside of Taiwan.
Photo: Reuters
Taiwanese travelers made more than 6.04 million visits to Japan last year, a new record, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co has made significant progress in its investment in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, he said, adding that the two countries have made strides in addressing various shared issues.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, Sumi said that he and his family have enjoyed Taiwan’s rich nature and culture, and felt the warmth of Taiwanese toward Japan, which has strengthened his resolve to focus on enhancing Taiwan-Japan cooperation.
In related news, the ministry yesterday said that Member of the Japanese House of Representatives Takayuki Kobayashi, a former minister for economic security, is arriving in Taiwan today.
Kobayashi is to meet with President William Lai (賴清德), Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and other senior government officials, Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Secretary-General Chang Jen-joe (張仁久) said.
Kobayashi, who ran in the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election last year, is viewed by many as a rising star in Japanese politics, Chang said.
Separately, asked about Taiwan’s representation at Hiroshima’s Aug. 6 peace memorial ceremony this year, Chang said that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan has received an invitation and is to send a high-ranking official to attend the event.
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