Former Japanese PM to lead delegation attending Lee's memorial

Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) A Japanese delegation led by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan Friday to attend the official memorial for former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday.

Mori, who served as Japan's prime minister from 2000-2001, will be joined by Keiji Furuya, chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council, and Yasuaki Tanizaki, President of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, during the delegation's stay in the country from Friday to Saturday, according to a MOFA press release.

The delegation which will arrive on a charter flight, will pay tribute to Lee during a memorial to be held at the chapel of Aletheia University in Tamsui, New Taipei on Saturday, in accordance with the epidemic prevention measures imposed by Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), the ministry added.

The upcoming visit will mark the second time the senior Japanese politician has visited Taiwan in less than two months to pay his respects to Lee, according to MOFA.

The 83-year-old politician led a 16-member parliamentary delegation to pay tribute to Lee at a memorial held at Taipei Guest House on Aug. 9, it noted.

MOFA welcomed Mori's upcoming visit and expressed gratitude, saying that the fact Tokyo is sending a former prime minister to Lee's memorial is an indication of the importance Japan attaches to the former president of Taiwan and how it cherishes Taiwan-Japan ties.

Earlier Thursday, the U.S. announced that it is sending Under Secretary of State Keith Krach to attend the memorial service for the late president.

Lee died at the age of 97 on July 30 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital after being hospitalized for over five months. He served as president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1988-2000.