Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) received Japanese Diet members Kitamura Tsuneo and Horii Iwao at the Presidential Office on Monday.
In his welcoming remarks, Lai expressed his gratitude for the Japanese government’s timely congratulations on his victory in the presidential election this January. He emphasized that Taiwanese people have exercised their democratic right to determine the future direction of the country and reiterated his commitment to enhancing Taiwan’s global visibility and reinforcing its democratic values to ensure a stronger Taiwan.
Lai conveyed his appreciation for the unwavering support of the Japanese government and legislature for the construction of TSMC’s chip fab in Kumamoto, which is scheduled to launch this Saturday. He underscored the significance of TSMC's investment in the fab and its plans for a second facility as pivotal moments for future industrial cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
Kitamura once again congratulated Lai on his election as Taiwan’s next president in his remarks. He expressed gratitude to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Lai for their swift response in extending condolences and providing assistance following the Noto earthquake in January. Kitamura also acknowledged the generous donations from the Taiwanese people, emphasizing that the mutual assistance between Japan and Taiwan exemplifies the true essence of friendship and solidarity in times of need.