Secretariat, Taipei City Government

On July 16, Representative Suzuki Keisuke, Chair of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) Taiwan Policy Project Team, and Representative Nakasone Yasutaka met with Taipei City Mayor Wan-an Chiang to exchange views on matters including youth exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, measures to address low birth rates, and strategies to mitigate urban–rural disparities.

Mayor Chiang welcomed the two representatives and expressed gratitude for the warm reception and assistance provided by the LDP Youth Division and various sectors in Japan during the city government’s visit in May. He emphasized the frequent exchanges between Taipei and Japanese cities, noting that the recent visit has further strengthened cooperation in the youth and industrial sectors.

Mayor Chiang also observed that Representative Nakasone had visited the Taipei City Government last May as part of a delegation from the LDP Youth Division. During that visit, the importance of strong Taiwan–Japan relations, particularly through ongoing youth exchanges and mutual understanding, was highlighted. Mayor Chiang introduced the guests to Wei Yin, Commissioner of the Department for Youth of the Taipei City Government, which was established on June 1, and noted that Taipei is the first city in Taiwan to have a dedicated department for international youth exchanges. Mayor Chiang expressed his hope that the Department for Youth and the LDP Youth Division will engage in more frequent exchanges to enhance interactions among younger generations.

Representative Suzuki expressed his gratitude to Mayor Chiang for taking the time to meet despite his busy schedule. He was delighted to meet Mayor Chiang again in Taipei and was pleased to see the establishment of the Taipei Department for Youth. Suzuki expressed his hope for more frequent youth exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. He added that both he and Representative Nakasone, being from the same generation, are committed to strengthening Taiwan–Japan relations over the next 10 to 20 years. He also expressed the desire for both sides to share solutions to common challenges such as declining birth rates and climate change. Representative Nakasone further inquired of Mayor Chiang regarding measures for preventing excessive population concentration in metropolitan areas while maintaining urban competitiveness. Mayor Chiang responded that a well-developed public transportation system in metropolitan areas is key. He cited Taipei’s current transportation policies as an example, highlighting the city’s efforts to integrate the Greater Taipei area, which included Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan through initiatives such as making the first 30 minutes of use free for YouBike shared bicycles and the introduction of discounted Taipei Metro TPASS ticket packages. These measures have not only effectively reduced the number of cars entering the city but also alleviated problems related to overpopulation.