TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Tuesday called on Japan to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, reports said.

Lin made the call during a meeting on Monday with a visiting delegation led by Japan’s House of Councillors member Takinami Hirofumi. The delegation represented the “TY Group,” a pro-Taiwan association within Japan’s upper chamber.

Taiwan met all required elements to qualify for CPTPP membership, Lin said. He expressed hope Japan could show leadership and help launch negotiations for Taiwan’s bid, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.

Lin told Takinami that as the economies of Taiwan and Japan were complementary, they should join forces to assist other countries in the region. Since both faced similar natural disasters, they should strengthen cooperation on preventive measures to boost social resilience, he said.

Located on the first island chain, both countries needed to respond to similar threats from China, according to Lin.