TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday congratulated Liberal Democratic Party leader Takaichi Sanae for being elected prime minister by Japan’s parliament, the Diet.

In the Feb. 8 general elections, the LDP won an absolute majority of 316 seats out of 465 in the Lower House, allowing her to continue heading the government. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) had instructed Taiwan’s representative office in Japan to congratulate Takaichi and her cabinet, the ministry said in a statement.

During past elections, Takaichi included support for Taiwan’s bids to join the World Health Organization and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in the LDP election program, according to the ministry. Before she was elected party leader last year, she visited Taiwan and met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

After taking over as prime minister, she emphasized the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace at several international meetings, the ministry said. The Japanese government also valued the stable development of relations with Taiwan, with Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu promising to deepen bilateral exchanges.

The ministry closed its statement by hoping the two countries could cooperate to achieve a “Free and open Indo-Pacific,” a key element of Japan’s foreign policy. The two countries will deepen their partnership to contribute together to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, according to the ministry.