TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) thanked Japanese expats visiting Hualien for tourism in the eastern Taiwanese city after the April 3 earthquake.

Hsiao traveled to Hualien to meet with Japanese representative to Taiwan Katayama Kazuyuki, who led the group on Sunday (June 9), according to the Presidential Office. In a speech, she said Taiwan and Japan share a deep friendship, which is most evident in times of hardship. 

Whenever Japan is hit by an earthquake, Taiwan is always concerned, Hsia said. Following the April quake in Hualien, the Japanese government and various sectors promptly donated aid and are now also supporting Hualien tourism. 

She expressed her gratitude to Katayama for leading Japanese expats to Hualien and hoped it would encourage more Japanese to visit the city.

The vice president emphasized that Taiwan and Japan help each other in times of difficulty and should share beautiful landscapes.

The Taiwan government has been promoting the revival of Hualien's industries since the quake, Hsiao said. She and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plan to invite foreign diplomats in Taiwan to visit the city. 

Hsiao hoped that the group’s photos of the beautiful scenery would attract more Japanese to visit Hualien.