Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, yesterday arrived in Taiwan for a four-day friendship visit, during which she is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and visit a Kaohsiung temple that houses a life-size bronze statue commemorating her late husband.
Akie Abe was accompanied by members of Japan’s House of Councillors Eriko Yamatani and Tsuneo Kitamura.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it sincerely welcomes Akie Abe, who is in Taiwan at the invitation of the Taiwan Friends of Abe Association.
Photo: CNA
Akie Abe’s proactive visit showcases the long-lasting friendship between the two countries, it said.
She was to attend a dinner banquet hosted by Vice President William Lai (賴清德) at the Grand Hotel in Taipei last night, where she was to meet with Japanese recipients of scholarships awarded by the association to study in Taiwan, the ministry said.
Today, she is to visit Hongmaogang Baoan Temple in Kaohsiung’s Fongshan District (鳳山) where a bronze statue of her late husband was erected.
The temple, which is the only place of worship in Taiwan that houses a skull believed to be that of a World War II Japanese naval officer, unveiled the bronze statue in September last year to commemorate Shinzo Abe.
Akie Abe is also to meet with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) at a lunch banquet before heading north to attend the Tainan leg of an exhibition featuring more than 100 photographs of her late husband.
Tomorrow Akie Abe is to pay her respects to former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) at New Taipei City’s Wuchihshan Military Cemetery, accompanied by Lee’s daughter Annie Lee (李安妮), the ministry said.
Lee and Shinzo Abe shared a mutual bond and sought to cultivate a positive relationship between Taiwan and Japan.
Akie Abe is to meet with Tsai and Lai tomorrow before leaving Taiwan on Thursday.
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