TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A 28-member delegation from Japan’s Diet is visiting Taiwan for the Double Ten National Day celebrations, reports said Thursday.

The trip was organized by Furuya Keiji, chair of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it welcomed the lawmakers from both houses of the Diet.

The group will congratulate President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for National Day and also meet with Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and with Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Chair Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全). A visit to the Taiwan FactCheck Center is also on their program, according to the ministry.

The multi-party Consultative Council attends Taiwan’s Double Ten celebrations each year. This year’s visit follows closely on the election of Takaichi Sanae as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. Widely seen as a supporter of closer cooperation with Taiwan, Takaichi is likely to be approved as Japan’s next prime minister on Oct. 15.

Taiwan hopes for increased Japanese support in its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and for talks to pave the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement.