TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Abe Akie (安倍昭惠), the widow of former Japan Prime Minister Abe Shinzo (安倍晉三), met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in Taipei on Friday.
Abe and Lai addressed the Hailifax International Security Forum held in Taiwan this week to promote regional and global security.
At a reception hosted for Abe at the Presidential Office on Friday, Lai said he was grateful for the great contributions Abe and her late husband made to advance bilateral relations between Japan and Taiwan, reported CNA.
Lai thanked Abe for her visit to Taiwan this week and for her remarks at the security forum on Thursday, where she offered advice on democratic development and security issues facing the world. Lai said that her attendance and presence in Taiwan demonstrate strong support for Taiwan.
Lai said he is grateful for her late husband’s efforts to advocate for Taiwan with democratic nations of the world. Thanks to the Abes, ensuring peace and stability in the region is now a common strategic goal among the international community, said Lai per CNA.
The president also thanked the current Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru (石破茂) for his efforts to further his predecessor's vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Indo-Pacific region. Lai noted the recent US-Japan Summit, where Ishiba promoted greater international participation for the country and emphasized the importance of Taiwan to the world.
In her remarks on Friday, Abe spoke about the wonderful relationship shared between Taiwan and Japan and Abe Shinzo’s desire to see that relationship continue to grow and strengthen. She also thanked Lai for his visit to Japan to share his condolences after the death of her husband in 2022, when he was vice president.
On Saturday, Abe will visit the Lee Teng-hui Foundation to meet with the daughter of the former president, who is also remembered as a strong proponent of strengthening ties between Japan and Taiwan.
