Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) of the Legislative Yuan led a cross-party delegation to the opening ceremony of the 54th General Assembly of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU) at 9:30 a.m. today (8/25). In attendance were delegations from 13 member countries, including the host country, Japan, and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Speaking on behalf of Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), Vice President Chiang delivered his remarks in his capacity as head of the ROC (Taiwan) delegation and as representative of the host country of the 53rd APPU General Assembly. Vice President Chiang expressed his appreciation to Japan for its warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. He also extended his heartfelt sympathies to those affected by the recent earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture and the torrential rains in Chiba Prefecture, conveying his sincere wishes for the swift recovery of the affected communities.
Vice President Chiang noted that the APPU has long served as an important platform for parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region to exchange views, share experiences, and build mutual trust. He emphasized that no country can respond alone in the face of challenges such as pandemics and regional conflicts that affect global supply chains; deepening international cooperation is therefore not merely an option but an imperative.
Echoing the theme of this year’s General Assembly, “Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Maintaining a Free and Open Economic Order and Strengthening Regional Supply Chain Resilience,” Vice President Chiang called on parliaments to translate their commitments into concrete action through legislation, budgetary oversight, and policy dialogue. He hoped that constructive and pragmatic exchanges among participating delegates would enable the APPU to serve as an enduring force for regional peace and cooperation. Vice President Chiang concluded by nominating Japanese House of Representatives Member Yamaguchi Shunichi to serve as Chair of the General Assembly, which was approved unanimously by applause.
The newly elected Chair Yamaguchi then delivered welcoming remarks, after which Japanese House of Councillors Member Yamamoto Junzo read a congratulatory message on behalf of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. In her message, Prime Minister Takaichi highlighted that, since its establishment, the APPU has remained a vital platform for dialogue and exchange in the Asia-Pacific region. Amid the grave and rapidly evolving international situation, she underscored the need for countries to stand together in unity and deepen their partnerships. She expressed the hope that discussions on a broad range of issues, together with concrete cooperation, would yield fruitful results. She also extended her best wishes for the success of the APPU General Assembly and for ever-closer ties of friendship among its member countries.
The General Assembly subsequently proceeded to substantive deliberations on draft resolutions submitted by member countries. During the discussions, the delegation of Tuvalu, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, took the floor to express its strong support for Taiwan’s proposal.
During a break in the morning proceedings, Vice President Chiang and the Taiwan delegation also advanced parliamentary diplomacy through a bilateral exchange with the delegation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, another diplomatic ally of Taiwan. Vice Speaker Isaac Zackhras, head of the Marshallese delegation, expressed his sincere gratitude for Taiwan’s longstanding support and assistance. He voiced the hope that the two sides would build on the solid foundation of their existing relationship to further expand exchanges and substantive cooperation in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other fields.
In response to Vice Speaker Zackhras’s remarks, Vice President Chiang stated that, although Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are geographically far apart, their shared values, including a commitment to democracy, and deep bonds of friendship bring the two countries close together. He looked forward to broader opportunities for cooperation in the future to further advance their substantive partnership. Vice President Chiang concluded by warmly inviting Vice Speaker Zackhras and his wife, neither of whom has yet to visit Taiwan, to lead a delegation to Taiwan. He also expressed his hope that they would meet again soon.
In addition to the exchange with the Marshallese delegation, KMT Legislator Hung Mong-Kai, DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-Ting, and TPP Legislator Dr. Hsu Chung-Hsin took the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with members of the Philippine delegation. They engaged in in-depth exchanges of views on maritime issues and bilateral cooperation, actively seeking to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines through parliamentary engagement. (2026/08/25)
