Vice President Chen Chien-Jen met with Takuya Tasso, governor of Japan’s Iwate Prefecture on Wednesday.
Chen thanked Tasso for the support Japan has shown Taiwan in the aftermath of disasters such as the Tainan earthquake on February 6. Japan donated 100 million yen to the earthquake’s victims.
Last year, Taiwan and Japan signed an agreement that would increase cooperation in disaster prevention and rescue efforts. The vice president said that both Japan and Taiwan are in an area that is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes. He said the readiness of both sides to give humanitarian aid is a sign of the close ties between Taiwan and Japan.
Trade and tourism between Taiwan and Japan have also been increasing. Chen noted that, last year, visitors between the two countries reached a record high of 5.4 million.