Secretariat, Taipei City Government

Taipei Mayor Wan-An Chiang received a delegation of Japanese House of Representatives members on December 23, including Keisuke Suzuki, Akihisa Nagashima, and Junichi Kanda, at Taipei City Government. The two parties exchanged opinions on Taiwan-Japan relations, the development of the AI industry, and sports and cultural exchanges. Both expressed the hope that, underpinned by shared values of freedom and democracy, they could continue to deepen bilateral ties and jointly address future challenges.

Mayor Chiang began by welcoming his long-time friend, Representative Keisuke Suzuki, back to Taiwan. Chiang noted that their friendship began when he was still serving as a legislator and has since grown stronger. He especially thanked the visiting delegation members for their consistent efforts in supporting Taiwan-friendly policies in Japan’s National Diet and for voicing support for Taiwan in international venues. Mayor Chiang also emphasized that Taipei City is actively driving the AI industry forward and successfully attracted NVIDIA to establish operations in Taipei. Looking ahead, he expressed his desire to strengthen collaboration with Japanese industries, particularly in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors.

Representative Keisuke Suzuki expressed his gratitude to Mayor Wan-An Chiang for taking the time to meet despite his busy schedule, and extended his condolences regarding the recent random attack incident on the Taipei Metro. Suzuki noted that since Mayor Chiang took office, the two have met almost annually, and he was pleased to make another visit before the end of 2025, bringing this year’s exchanges to a meaningful close. He emphasized that all members of the delegation are senior, long-standing friends of Taiwan, and he strongly endorsed the mayor’s vision of jointly addressing global challenges.

On the topic of industrial and product exchange, Representative Junichi Kanda shared that his hometown, Aomori Prefecture, has deep ties with Taiwan. Not only is Taiwan the largest export market for Aomori apples, but the region has also direct flights to Taiwan, facilitating frequent exchanges. As Taiwan prepares for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Representative Suzuki humorously remarked that he is very much looking forward to the exciting games—but should Taiwan and Japan face off, as a friend of Taiwan, he “honestly wouldn’t know which team to support.” At the conclusion of the meeting, Representative Akihisa Nagashima commended Mayor Chiang’s performance in governance and expressed great anticipation for the mayor’s future in politics.