Former Japanese Senate Speaker Shandong Akiko led cross-party female congressmen to the presidential palace to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen.

(Provided by the Presidential Palace)

[Reporter Chen Yun/Taipei Report] Former Japanese Senate Speaker Shandong Akiko led cross-party female congressmen to the presidential palace to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen. Shandong Akiko said that Taiwan and Japan have an inseparable friendship. Committed to maintaining peace in the Asian region, Japan will strongly support Taiwan's participation in relevant international organizations, and hopes that Taiwan can play a positive and positive force and make contributions to the world; she also praised President Tsai for overcoming many difficulties and actively promoting diplomacy, which is a symbol of women's politics Character model.

Tsai Ing-wen said that Shandong Zhaozi is an advisor to the "Nihua Congressional Council" and an old friend who has supported Taiwan for a long time.

In 2021, when Shandong Zhaozi served as the speaker, she assisted in the unanimous adoption of a resolution by the Japanese Senate to support Taiwan's participation in the "World Health Organization" (WHO). On behalf of all Taiwanese people, she would like to express her sincere gratitude for such firm support.

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Tsai Ing-wen pointed out that Shandong Zhaozi is the senator who has been elected the most times in Japanese history, and she is also the second female Senate speaker in Japanese history. It is particularly meaningful to lead cross-party female congressmen to visit Taiwan. Taiwan is also actively promoting women's participation in politics. The proportion of female legislators has reached 40%. It is hoped that Taiwan and Japan can actively communicate and jointly implement important issues such as gender equality and women's participation in politics.

Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan and Japan are also important partners of each other in regional security cooperation.

She would like to thank the Japanese government for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait on different international occasions. Taiwan continues to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and is willing to continue to deepen cooperation with Japan and other democratic partners to jointly maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Shandong Zhaozi said that President Tsai visited Japan as a presidential candidate. It was the first time she met with the president. At that time, fellow members of the Japanese Diet also cheered for the president. As the first female president of Taiwan, I believe she has encountered a lot of hardships. However, President Tsai can listen to public opinion and overcome many difficulties. She is a model of female politicians.

In the current difficult international situation, Taiwan's active promotion of diplomacy has also won the resonance of many liberal democracies in the world.

Shandong Zhaozi pointed out that Taiwan and Japan have often cared for each other in the long history of the past, and have cooperated and assisted each other on many spiritual and economic levels. It can be said that they are true friends and have an inseparable friendship.

Shandong Zhaozi mentioned that for Russia's aggression against Ukraine and North Korea's series of militaristic actions, all countries have severely condemned and sanctioned dictatorships that despise human rights and control speech.

Shandong Zhaozi said that Japan is committed to returning to the origin of world peace, and must first devote itself to maintaining peace in Asia.

She emphasized that Japan will strongly support Taiwan's participation in relevant international organizations, and hopes that Taiwan can play a positive and benevolent positive force and make contributions to the world.

Members of the delegation also included Funayama Yasue, member of the Japanese Senate, SHIMAJIRI Aiko, member of the House of Representatives, Imai Eriko, member of the House of Representatives, and Izumi Yutai, representative of the Taipei Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association ( IZUMI Hiroyasu), and Gu Lixiong, Secretary General of the National Security Council, were also present.

Former Japanese Senate Speaker Shandong Akiko praised President Tsai as a model female politician in overcoming many difficulties and actively promoting diplomacy.

(Provided by the Presidential Palace)