Taipei, July 30 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih (???) will depart for a three-day “friendship tour” of Japan on Monday, the incumbent New Taipei mayor’s campaign office said Sunday.
In a statement, Hou’s office said the KMT nominee would meet with Japanese lawmakers, including Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chairman Keiji Furuya.
In addition, the 66-year-old Hou will visit the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and meet with Taiwanese expatriates, the statement added.
According to the KMT, Hou will be the second presidential candidate from the opposition party to visit Japan following former President Ma Ying-jeou’s (???) 2007 trip.
The statement claimed the KMT had long maintained close links with Japanese governmental officials, parliamentarians and political parties.
“Taiwan and Japan are inseparable in terms of their relationship,” Hou’s campaign office cited the presidential candidate as saying, pointing to Hou’s decision to visit Japan not long after being formally selected as the KMT nominee on July 23 as evidence.
