Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) yesterday met with a delegation led by Japanese House of Representatives member and Democratic Party For the People (DPFP) Youth Division director Satoshi Asano, expressing hopes to increase exchanges between the Legislative Yuan and the Japanese National Diet.
Han in his address said that both Japan and Taiwan have undergone “changes in the political arena that were no less drastic than earthquakes or typhoons,” given that Japanese upper house elections were completed last month and recall votes in Taiwan were held on Saturday.
“We are particularly excited about meeting Japanese National Diet members, as both sides have experienced a massive political change,” he said.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Taiwan’s legislative branch boasts the highest percentage of female representation in Asia, as 48 out of 113 lawmakers are women, Han said.
Eighty-five out of the 113 legislators participate in the Legislative Yuan’s Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association, Han said, adding that the number is surprisingly high.
“We hope that Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and Japan’s National Diet — both the upper and lower houses — would have more frequent exchanges,” he said.
Han said that the legislature is planning to send a delegation to Japan to visit the World Expo in Osaka, where he expects to meet with more Japanese House of Representatives members.
Asano said the DPFP gained significantly more seats in both in the upper house elections last month and the lower house elections last year.
“The DPFP Youth Division is making an overseas visit for the first time since it was established, and the destination chosen was Taiwan,” he said.
Asano expressed gratitude to Taiwan for providing aid to Japan shortly after the Noto Peninsula earthquake last year.
He also conveyed sympathy over the situation in Taiwan following typhoons last month, saying that he wishes the affected regions a fast recovery.
The delegation is visiting Taiwan mainly to learn about Taiwan’s digital technology, including visiting science parks and the Taiwan Fact Check Center, Asano said, adding that they acquired a wealth of valuable information.
Other attendees included Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷), Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) and Japanese House of Councilors member Mami Tamura.
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