On May 19 at noon, President Han hosted a luncheon for over 30 members of the Japanese Diet's Congratulatory Delegation attending the presidential inauguration. In attendance were Vice President Johnny C. Chiang, Vice Chair of the 11th Legislative Yuan Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association Hung Mong-kai, Vice Chair Chiu Yi-ying, Vice Chair Huang Shan-shan, and Legislators Chuang Jui-hsiung, Lin Chu-yin, Ko Ju-Chun, Chen Yeong-kang, Alice Chang, and International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin.

President Han first extended a sincere welcome to the visitors, joining Vice President Chiang, attending members, and Chairperson Furuya Keiji and his delegation in a group photo under a "Taiwan-Japan Friendship" banner. In his address, President Han expressed gratitude to the bipartisan group of Japanese legislators for their attendance at Taiwan's 16th presidential inauguration ceremony. He emphasized that today's meeting at the Legislative Yuan, attended by cross-partisan legislators, underscores the exceptional friendship between Taiwan and Japan, where the warmth of our hearts is our common language. President Han continued by stating that despite the intense conflicts during the Legislative Yuan session the day before yesterday, parliamentary diplomacy remains a unanimous goal among cross-partisan members. Today, everyone warmly welcomes our Japanese friends with the utmost enthusiasm. President Han further mentioned that according to a 2022 public opinion survey released by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, 77% of Taiwanese people feel a close affinity towards Japan. He also noted that a 2021 survey conducted by Taiwan’s representative office in Japan indicated that nearly 80% of Japanese people feel a sense of closeness to Taiwan. As parliamentarians from Taiwan and Japan, it is crucial to value these survey results. They indicate that the people of both countries strongly desire for the friendship between Taiwan and Japan to remain steadfast and enduring.

President Han then mentioned that in warm welcome to our Japanese friends, he personally selected the Xing Peng Lai restaurant for the banquet. Taiwan's cuisine is renowned internationally, and Xing Peng Lai is celebrated for its authentic Taiwanese traditional banquet dishes. This year (2024) marks the sixth consecutive year that Xing Peng Lai is honored as a Michelin-selected restaurant. The overwhelming deliciousness of classic Taiwanese cuisine has captured the hearts of many political and business elites, overseas compatriots, and foreign travelers. It's a restaurant frequently visited by returning overseas Taiwanese and gastronomes from home and abroad. President Han expressed his hope that the Japanese guests would thoroughly enjoy the iconic Taiwanese cuisine prepared for them. He believed that savoring these dishes would not only deepen their appreciation of Taiwan through taste but also stir their hearts, fostering relaxed and enjoyable interactions that would further deepen mutual exchanges and friendships between our nations.

In his address, Chairperson Furuya Keiji of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council first expressed gratitude to President Han, Vice President Chiang, and all attending legislators of various party caucuses for accommodating the delegation during the legislative session, even on public holidays. He continued by stating that this visit marks the largest-ever delegation of Japanese parliamentarians. Chairperson Furuya also conveyed his deep honor for President Han's personal selection of such an authentic Taiwanese restaurant for their gathering. He continued, mentioning that four years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, beloved former President Lee Teng-hui passed away. At that time, former Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro led a large delegation of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council to Taiwan on a chartered flight to pay their respects. He expressed deep gratitude for Taiwan's care and hospitality towards the Japanese delegation during that visit, a memory he still holds dear to this day. Upon their arrival in Taiwan yesterday (May 18), the congratulatory delegation visited many historical buildings and landmarks from Taiwan's period under Japanese rule. Witnessing the meticulous preservation of these structures left everyone deeply moved and impressed. Chairperson Furuya mentioned their plans to organize future overseas trips for Japanese students to visit these places in Taiwan. They hope that the Taiwan-Japan friendship between the people of both countries can begin at a young age, fostering mutual understanding and nurturing close bilateral ties across generations. Chairperson Furuya also responded to President Han's mention of parliamentary conflicts, stating that any parliamentary conflict is a crucial part of the democratic process. He emphasized that the strong friendship between Taiwan and Japan is rooted in democracy, making Taiwan and Japan longstanding and close allies who often come together for mutual reasons. Chairperson Furuya concluded by expressing his deep fondness for the calligraphy artwork "A Thousand Miles at a Glance" gifted to him by President Han in March. This artwork was crafted by Taiwan's master calligrapher Chang Bing-huang. Chairperson Furuya mentioned that he prominently displayed this artwork in his office, as it best represents his feelings about the significant progress in Taiwan-Japan friendship. He also framed a photo of himself with the artwork and personally presented it to President Han during this visit to Taiwan.

After Chairperson Furuya concluded his speech, President Han invited the distinguished guests to toast and commence the luncheon. During the meal, President Han expressed special gratitude for the strong support and assistance from the Japanese delegation during the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU) meeting held in Tokyo in March this year. He acknowledged that through everyone's collective efforts, Taiwan successfully secured the hosting rights for the 53rd General Assembly and the 87th Council of APPU in 2025. He specifically invited all Japanese dignitaries present to come to Taiwan next year to attend the conference. The luncheon lasted about two hours, characterized by a warm and friendly atmosphere. Both sides exchanged commemorative gifts, marking a successful conclusion to today's meeting.