113.03.14. (國際處067)
     江啟臣副院長於3月11日至14日率跨黨派代表團出席「亞洲太平洋國會議員聯合會」(APPU)年會期間，除首日拜會「國民民主黨」代表玉木雄一、執政之「自民黨」副總裁麻生太郎外，也馬不停蹄分別拜會「日本維新之會」黨代表馬場伸幸、「日華議員懇談會」會長古屋圭司、第一大在野黨「立憲民主黨」及各黨參眾議員與幹部等，其等對我團到訪均表達熱切歡迎。
Taiwan’s cross-party legislative delegation led by Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang of the Legislative Yuan attended the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU) meetings. During the four-day trip from March 11 to 14, the delegation met with multiple leaders of the Japan Parliament and members from the both Houses of Councilors and Representatives, who all expressed their warm welcome. These courtesy calls included visits to Representative Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) and Vice President Taro Aso of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), followed by visits to Representative Nobuyuki Baba, leader of the Japan Restoration Party, Chairperson Keiji Furuya of Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, and members of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Japan’s largest opposing party today.

    「日本維新之會」黨代表馬場伸幸表示，台日是兄弟之邦，一直往來密切，他去年訪台時受到台灣各界熱情招待，迄今印象深刻，並恭賀我團多位首度當選的新科立委。13年前東日本大地震及今年元旦的能登半島地震，台灣給予多方援助，其中能登半島地震台灣民間募款超過25億日圓，他深表感謝。馬場代表強調，「台灣有事等於日本有事」的觀念已深植日本民眾心裡，建議台日雙方應提升安保領域的交流層級，合作共商因應對策。他續表示，希望未來台日國會、地方議會及民間交流都能更上層，該黨也將竭盡全力鼓勵日人赴台旅遊，以深化彼此情誼與合作，共創亞太地區的繁榮和穩定。
Representative Nobuyuki Baba, leader of the Japan Restoration Party, expressed that Taiwan and Japan have been partners with close exchanges. During his visit to Taiwan in 2023, he was warmly received by representatives from all walks of life and was deeply impressed. Representative Baba also congratulated many of the newly elected legislators from our delegation for joining Taiwan’s new Legislature. When Japan experienced the strong earthquake in 2011 and the one at Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day this year, Taiwan provided assistance in various ways; for the relief at Noto Peninsula, a donation of over 2.5 billion Japanese Yen was sent from Taiwan’s private sector, for which Representative Baba expressed deep gratitude. He added that the idea of “Business of Taiwan is a business of Japan” has been deeply rooted in the hearts of Japanese people. It is hoped that there could be an increase of exchanges on peace and security at higher level dialogues between the two nations, so that there can be comprehensive countermeasures for any possible scenarios. Representative Baba also expressed his hope that the interactions between Taiwan-Japan Parliament, local councils, and even between people could reach higher levels in the future. The Japan Restoration Party will also play its part in encouraging Japanese people to visit Taiwan to deepen our friendship and collaboration, creating prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region together.

    江副院長表示，「日本維新之會」曾於我國花蓮大地震時捐款1千萬日圓協助災後重建，也經常在日本國會中為台灣發聲，包括2021年促成參議院無異議表決通過支持台灣參與世界衛生大會（WHA），我方對此深表感謝。續謂，我團此行係來東京參加APPU年會，特別感謝該黨和田有一朗議員在會中為我仗義執言，支持我方所提決議草案，明年大會將由台灣主辦，江副院長誠摯邀請「日本維新之會」議員來台共襄盛會。雙方嗣另就對中政策、區域安全、台灣尋求加入「跨太平洋夥伴全面進步協定」 (CPTPP）等議題交換意見，氣氛友好愉快。
In his remark, Vice President Chiang stated that the Japan Restoration Party donated 10 million Japanese Yen to assist in post-disaster reconstruction during the Hualien earthquake in Taiwan. Vice President Chiang also expressed his sincere gratitude for the Party’s all-time backing of Taiwan in the Japan’s Parliament; for instance, the unanimous pass of support for Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2021. Chiang added that as Taiwan’s delegation attended the APPU meetings in Tokyo, we appreciated Representative Jimusho Wada from the Japan Restoration Party for speaking up to support the agreement drafts proposed by Taiwan. Vice President Chiang also invited members of the Party to visit Taiwan, which will be hosting the APPU General Assembly 2025. The visit continued in warmth and joy with exchanges of views on policies toward China, regional security, and Taiwan’s pursuit of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

    我代表團另拜會近日甫訪台的跨黨派「日華議員懇談會」會長古屋圭司及相關幹部，前參議院議長山東昭子、前產經大臣及現文部科技大臣萩生田光一均出席與會，顯見日華懇對我團的重視。古屋會長表示，台灣是成熟的民主國家，今年1月13日和2月1日分別選出新總統和新國會，而他兩天前甫訪台拜會立法院韓國瑜院長，就台灣本屆國會最大黨與執政黨為不同政黨所形成的朝小野大情況交換意見。他指出日本也曾有參眾兩院執政黨席次不同，於國會中未過半數之情形，但鑒於現行政經情況已大不相同，因此日本國會近年也逐步思考相關因應之道。他盼台灣新政府於五月正式上任後，朝野能集思廣意，做出對人民更好的決定。他續分享稱，首次當選國會議員後曾參加過APPU，如今各國間的合作已更加頻繁且更趨重要，因此，他期盼未來台日國會交流能更加緊密。
Our delegation also paid a visit to the cross-party Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council to meet with Chairperson Keiji Furuya, who just visited Taiwan not long ago, as well as multiple Council leaders; also in attendance were former President Akiko Santo of the House of Councilors and the former Minister Koichi Hagiuda of Economy, Trade, and Industry, now serving as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Their presence showed the great importance that the Council attaches to our delegation. Chairperson Furuya pointed out that Taiwan is a nation with mature democracy. A new president was elected on January 13 and a new Legislature formed on February 1 this year. He just visited Taiwan two days before to meet with President Daniel K.Y. Han of the Legislative Yuan and exchanged thoughts on the composition of the Taiwan Legislature today, where the members of opposing parties account for most seats, while the number of the ruling party members are the minority. He stated that Japan also experienced similar situations where the ruling party had different numbers of seats in the House of Representatives and the Councilors, accounting for less than half of the total seats. That being the case, given the changing economy today, the Japanese Parliament has been working on measures to address such situations. Chairperson Furuya expressed hope that after Taiwan’s new administration starts running in May, both the ruling and opposition parties could pool their wisdom to make decisions for the better good of the people. He continued to share that he once attended the APPU meetings after being elected as a member of the House of Representatives. As collaborations between nations have become more frequent today, he looks forward to more ties between the Taiwan and Japan Parliament in the future.

    江副院長首先對古屋會長返日後即親自接待我團表達謝意。古屋會長兩天前在台灣與韓院長會面時，我團同時也在日本和自民黨青年局議員交流，顯見無論何時何地，台日兩國關係隨時都密切進展中。江副院長繼特別以手機展示，韓院長請我國書法大師親書致贈古屋會長的作品「一望千里」，象徵台日關係向前展望並更上層樓。他也強調，台灣新國會雖出現三黨不過半的局面，但台日友好關是基於跨黨派的基礎，新國會首次海外訪問擇選日本，顯見我國朝野都相當重視對日關係。江副院長續就此次APPU大會中，日本代表團全力支持台灣所提加入「聯合國氣候變化框架公約」(UNFCCC)的決議案，再表感謝，並竭誠歡迎古屋會長及所有日本議員友人明年來台APPU第53屆年會，以持續深化台日友誼。
In response, Vice President Chiang first expressed gratitude to Chairperson Furuya for personally receiving our delegation right after returning to Japan. When Chairperson Furuya was meeting with President Han in Taiwan two days before, Taiwan’s legislative delegation was also exchanging ideas with members of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Youth Division. This showed that the ties between Taiwan and Japan have been growing closer regardless of time and space. Vice President Chiang continued by showing on his phone a picture of a calligraphy work by a master; on the piece of word was an inscription- “A Journey Stretching into a Thousand Miles.” As a token of appreciation from President Han to Chairperson Furuya, the art piece symbolizes the everlasting journey ahead that Taiwan and Japan embark on side by side. Chiang also stressed that although Taiwan’s new Legislature comprises three parties, with none of which accounting for over half of the Parliament seats, the friendship between Taiwan and Japan is a shared vision across the political spectrum. The new legislative delegation making its first overseas visit to Japan is a guarantee of the importance placed by both the ruling and opposing parties to relations between the two nations. Vice President Chiang also mentioned that during the APPU event, the Japanese parliamentarian delegation showed full support of Taiwan’s agreement draft for joining the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For that, Vice President Chiang once again expressed his gratitude, and he wholeheartedly invited Chairperson Furuya and all members of the Japanese Parliament to visit Taiwan in 2025 for the 53rd APPU General Assembly, which could surely add to the partnerships between Taiwan and Japan.

    我團於訪日最後一天仍利用上午時段，前拜會日本第一大在野黨「立憲民主黨」代表泉健太眾議員，該黨計8位眾議員出席。泉代表熱情歡迎我團，並恭喜在座立委今年元月順利當選，他當時透過日本媒體觀看1月13日當天的台灣大選開票轉播，對民進黨贏得總統選舉、國民黨成為國會最大黨、民眾黨表現及台灣人民所展現的高度民主素養表示賀忱與敬佩。泉代表另恭喜我順利取得APPU明年主辦權，並預祝明年大會舉辦順利，更盼立憲民主黨於日本國會改選中贏得更多席次，明年能與該黨幹部一同赴台參加APPU。而身為日本最大在野黨，他們盼未來持續成長並和中華民國立法院保持緊密交流，再向前推進台日關係。
On the last day of the trip, our delegation still made the most of the morning to visit Representative Kenta Izumi, the leader of Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, along with 7 members of the House of Representatives. Representative Izumi started by warmly welcoming our delegation and congratulating the legislators present for their successful election in January this year. He shared that on January 13, he was watching the broadcast of Taiwan’s election through Japanese media, and he could not emphasize enough his joy for Democratic Progressive Party’s victory in the presidential election and the Kuomintang securing the majority of seats in the Parliament; Representative Izumi also would like to convey his admiration for the efforts that Taiwan People’s Party put in the election, and most importantly, the critical democratic literacy that can be seen in Taiwanese people. Representative Izumi also congratulated Taiwan on obtaining the right to host the APPU event next year, and he wished the coming general assembly a great success. He also expressed hope that his Constitutional Democratic Party could secure more seats in the National Diet in the future election, so that he could be traveling to Taiwan with the party leaders for the APPU event. As the main opposition party in Japan, it is their hope to continue to grow and maintain close ties with the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China to advance Taiwan-Japan relations.

    江副院長表示，深切感受到「立憲民主黨」在泉代表領導下衝滿活力，他預祝在座議員於下次國會改選中均高票連任，並歡迎明年一同來台參加我國主辦的APPU年會。他繼表示，台灣跨黨派立委一致支持續深化台日友好關係，且台日各項調查均顯示，雙方人民對彼此的好感度高達七成，這就是台灣新國會首次外交出訪選擇日本的主因，相信未來的雙邊交流將更增進彼此瞭解，深化台日情誼。雙方隨後就台日國內政治情勢、社會問題、能源政策、台灣對中政策、高科技產業等議題廣泛交換意見，氣氛輕鬆友好。
Echoing what Representative Izumi said, Vice President Chiang expressed that he felt from the bottom of his heart that the Constitutional Democratic Party is filled with momentum under the leadership of Representative Izumi. He also wished all the members present to be re-elected with high votes in the next Diet election, and he will be glad to receive them in Taiwan next year for the APPU General Assembly. Vice President Chiang added that Taiwan’s legislators across parties unanimously support the continued deepening of the Taiwan-Japan relations. In addition, an array of surveys in the two nations show that people of both sides have a good impression of each other as high as 70%. This is the main reason that Taiwan’s new Legislature chose Japan for its first overseas visit to boost legislative diplomacy. It is believed that exchanges between Taiwan and Japan will enhance mutual understanding and strengthen our ties. The visit continued in a joyful vibe with engaged exchanges of views on the two nations’ domestic politics, social issues, energy policy, Taiwan’s policy toward China, and high-tech industry developments.

    江副院長及我團立委訪日期間另安排與中央通訊社、自由時報、寰宇新聞台及台生報等我國駐日媒體記者茶敘，分享本次參加APPU大會所獲致豐碩成果及與日本、各國議員面對面深度交流等情。
During their visit to Japan, Vice President Chiang and the delegation also arranged tea gatherings with Taiwan’s press and media teams based in Japan. Meeting with the Central News Agency, Liberty Times, Global News, and other local news media , our delegation shared the fruitful results from participating in the APPU General Assembly and the in-depth exchanges from the face-to-face meetings with parliamentarians from Japan and other attending nations.

    江副院長及我代表團成員一行於本（3月14）日下午搭機返台，登機前特別向外交部及駐日代表處謝長廷大使與相關同仁致意，感謝其等事前完善規劃、準備及提供充分的後勤支援，尤其成功協助我團順利達成參與第52屆APPU年會的預設目標，為本屆立法院跨黨派委員組團出訪，推動國會外交及提升台灣國際能見度，繳出第一張漂亮的成績單。
The legislative delegation led by Vice President Chiang returned to Taiwan by flight on the afternoon of March 14. Before boarding, they thanked Taiwan's representative to Japan Frank Hsieh and the teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their perfect arrangement in advance to receive the delegation. In addition to the comprehensive logistic support, the members at the Representative Office also assisted our delegation to achieve the goals set for attending the 52nd APPU General Assembly. With these efforts, the delegation composed of cross-party legislators of the new Legislature returned with remarkable outcomes by pulling off legislative diplomacy and enhancing Taiwan’s international visibility.