Taiwan legislative speaker heads to Japan for talks | Taiwan News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) will head to Japan later this month to meet with lawmakers and visit the Osaka Expo.

At the invitation of Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chairman Keiji Furuya, Han will lead an 11-member bipartisan delegation to Tokyo and Osaka from Sept. 25-29, CNA reported.

The trip follows a visit by 27 KMT legislators to Japan’s Diet last Thursday, the largest-ever overseas trip by Taiwanese lawmakers. The group held talks with Japanese legislators on disaster relief cooperation and Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Furuya said peace in the Taiwan Strait is vital for Taiwanese and Japanese residents and called for deeper exchanges to safeguard regional stability.

Han’s trip is part of the Legislative Yuan’s parliamentary diplomacy efforts. Deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣) is currently touring Europe to engage with lawmakers and garner support for Taiwan.