林志嘉秘書長今(4)日上午在本院國際事務處林晨富處長以及臺灣日本關係協會陳志任副秘書長陪同下，接見日本「神奈川縣日華親善協會中華民國訪問團」一行。林秘書長歡迎訪團到立法院參訪，並表示非常開心可以再次見到老朋友田中和德眾議員，此次是在受到新冠疫情影響後時隔4年的重逢，非常令人欣慰。
Secretary-General Lin Jih-Jia of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by Kevin C. F. Lin, Director of International Affairs Department and Chen Chin-jen, Deputy Secretary-General of Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, received a delegation from Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association on the morning of September 4. Secretary-General Lin first extended his warm welcome to the delegation. He was very pleased to meet again with his old friend-Tanaka Kazunori, Member of Japanese House of Representatives, and particularly gratified by their reunion after four years due to the disruption of COVID-19 pandemic.
林秘書長提到，根據不動產資訊網站調查顯示，神奈川縣已經連續6年蟬聯日本「首都圈最理想居住地區（車站）排行榜」第一名，對於神奈川縣最大的城市橫濱，林秘書長也表示自己非常喜歡橫濱的悠閒氛圍及迷人夜景，曾帶著家人造訪過許多次。「神奈川縣日華親善協會」是台日兩國最穩固且最暢通的交流平台，為台日兩國打造互信互惠的珍貴傳統，在田中名譽會長的帶領下，一定能夠繼續強化彼此緊密的夥伴關係。目前台灣與日本的關係是史上最好的時刻，在新冠疫情前的2019年，日本來台旅客約217萬人次，而台灣赴日旅遊則約492萬人次。疫情趨緩後截至今年8月底，日本來台旅遊人次已超過30萬，台灣也已經有超過180萬人次到日本旅遊，充分顯示台日兩國人民間密切往來和深厚友誼。
Secretary-General Lin stated that according to a recent survey conducted by a major real estate website in Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture has topped the list of “Most Desirable Cities to Live in the greater Tokyo area” for six consecutive years. He himself was particularly fond of the laid-back vibe and the charming night view of Yokohama, the biggest city of Kanagawa Prefecture, where he and his family had visited for a couple of times. Secretary-General Lin went on to say that Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association is the most stable and dynamic exchange platform between Taiwan and Japan, aiming to build up the valuable traditions of mutual trust and reciprocity between the two sides. Under the leadership of Hon. Tanaka, concurrently honorary Chair of the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association, the close ties of Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen. At present, bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Japan have been at their best level ever. Before 2019, the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of Japanese visiting Taiwan was around 2.17 million, while the number of Taiwanese visiting Japan was roughly 4.92 million. By the end of August 2023 as the pandemic faded away, the Japanese visiting Taiwan was over 300,000; meanwhile, the number of Taiwanese visiting Japan reached to over 1.8 million, a figure that fully demonstrated frequent exchanges and a profound friendship between the people of both sides.
林秘書長最後表示，他要代表立法院特別感謝「日華親善協會」在2016年台南震災及2018年花蓮震災發生後，主動發起募款並分別捐贈日幣30萬元及80萬元給災區，以實際行動幫助台灣的受災民眾重建家園，展現台日友好互助關懷的情誼。更令人感動的是，在台灣疫情最嚴峻、迫切急需疫苗的時候，日本發揮人道精神，慷慨捐贈6次總計420萬劑疫苗給台灣，協助我國政府及人民度過難關，再次印證了台日兩國是患難見真情的好朋友；未來也期望在「日華親善協會」的支持下，讓兩國關係持續廣化、深化，歷久彌新。
Secretary-General Lin concluded by expressing special gratitude to the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association for initiating fundraising activities and donating 300,000 and 800,000 Japanese Yens respectively to the quake-hit regions of Tainan in 2016 and those of Hualien in 2018. These concrete actions helped survivors of the earthquakes rebuild their homeland, displaying Taiwan and Japan's friendship and mutual assistance. What touched him more was when Taiwan suffered from the worst coronavirus breakout and was in dire need of vaccines, Japan generously donated six batches of COVID-19 vaccines, 4.2 million doses in total, to assist Taiwan in the spirit of humanitarianism. It once again testifies that Taiwan and Japan are true friends who can help one another weather through the difficulties. It is hoped that with the support of the Kanagawa Prefecture Japan-Taiwan Friendship Association, the Taiwan-Japan relationship will continue to deepen, further expand, and last forever.
田中和德眾議員致詞時表示，因為新冠疫情影響，睽違許久再度訪台，這次率領日華親善協會幹部來台，受到台灣各界的熱忱接待，行程相當充實，尤其在台灣準備明(113)年1月13日即將舉行之總統及立法委員選舉的忙碌時刻，能夠來到立法院訪問，受到林秘書長接見與熱情款待，更是由衷感謝。神奈川縣是人口近千萬的大都市，橫濱更有舉世聞名的中華街，回顧歷史，神奈川縣與台灣長期以來交流密切，期盼雙邊的親善互動能源遠流長地持續下去。田中眾議員另強調，日本過去有許多地方也受到台灣關照，尤其是在311震災時獲得台灣人民踴躍捐助超過日幣200億元以上的善款，非常感念台灣人民適時伸出援手，他也要在此再度表示感謝。因為台灣是世界上捐贈最多善款幫助日本重建的國家，在日本國內也造成廣大迴響，日本國會也非常感謝台灣的義舉。
In his remarks, Representative Tanaka Kazunori stated that due to the pandemic, it took longer time for senior members of the Association to visit Taiwan again. Their delegation had received warm hospitality, and the visit had been fruitful. He sincerely thanked Secretary-General Lin for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet the delegation while the Presidential and legislative elections slated to be held on Jan 13, 2024 are drawing near. Representative Tanaka introduced that Kanagawa is a large metropolitan prefecture with a population of approximately 10 million, and the city of Yokohama is renowned for its Chinatown. Looking back into history, Kanagawa Prefecture had maintained close contacts with Taiwan over a long period of time. He hoped the amicable exchanges between the two sides will remain unchanged. He further stressed that Taiwan had assisted Japan in many areas as well. For example, Taiwanese people generously donated more than 20 billion Yens to Japan for disaster relief in the wake of the 311 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. He wanted to express gratitude again, because Taiwan was the very first country who made donations to Japan. Such kindness had received far-reaching responses across Japan. Taiwan’s timely assistance was deeply appreciated by the National Diet of Japan as well.
田中眾議員並說，以台積電為首的台灣半導體科技產業，在日本也受到高度關注，日本非常歡迎台積電前往日本設廠。最近日本政壇也有許多重量級人物來到台灣訪問，象徵台日雙邊關係開啟新的篇章，日本與美國一樣，都非常重視與台灣的關係發展，若是台灣有事，日本與美國都將如同協助自己同胞一樣，共同攜手面對挑戰。台灣與日本是命運共同體，也是彼此的重要夥伴，「日華親善協會」的重要使命就是推動台日關係的發展，也期待雙方持續在各領域強化交流，讓彼此關係邁向新的里程碑。
Representative Tanaka went on to comment that Taiwan’s semiconductor industries led by TSMC has caught a lot of attention in Japan. TSMC is most welcome to build chip plants in Japan. Recently, many Japan’s political heavyweights had paid visits to Taiwan, which symbolized a new chapter in Japan-Taiwan relations. Japan attached great importance to the relationship with Taiwan as the U.S. did. If there were a Taiwan contingency, Japan would rally with the U.S. to address the challenge and assist Taiwan as their own compatriots. Taiwan and Japan share a community of common destiny and one serves as another’s major partner. The mission of the Association is to promote and further strengthen the ties between Taiwan and Japan. He hoped both sides could continuously enhance exchanges in all fields and elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights.
雙方另就立法院透過實況轉播提升人民對政治議題的參與度，以及台灣立法委員選舉制度、徵兵制、國防預算等議題廣泛交流討論，隨後雙方在互贈紀念品與合影留念後圓滿結束。
During free discussion, both parties exchanged views on issues of mutual interest including promoting people’s political engagement via live streaming of parliamentary sittings, Taiwan’s electoral system, military conscription, and defense spending. The meeting came to a fruitful conclusion after exchange of gifts and the taking of group photos.
