TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday lauded Taiwan’s close ties with Japan during talks with Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chair Sumi Shuzo, who took office in June.

Lai said he was confident that under Sumi’s leadership, bilateral ties would achieve further progress, according to the Presidential Office. The president hoped for continued exchanges and cooperation in fields such as economic security, technological innovation, culture and tourism, and youth exchanges.

He said the two sides can contribute more to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Lai highlighted the goodwill and mutual support between Taiwanese and Japanese. Both countries have overcome many challenges and constraints, making the Taiwan–Japan friendship a model for bilateral relations worldwide.

Sumi said that Taiwan and Japan face challenges, including states seeking to unilaterally alter the status quo through force or intimidation, as well as major disruptions to global trade. He hoped that Taiwan and Japan could strengthen cooperation in tackling these challenges by pooling wisdom and working out solutions together.

Sumi added that Japan and Taiwan share a spirit of harmony and conciliation, as well as universal values. He hoped this belief could be extended to other parts of the world.