14 Taiwan legislators depart for Japan to attend APPU meeting

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) on Monday led a cross-party delegation to Japan to attend a regional parliamentary assembly in Tokyo.

Chiang's delegation comprises 13 other Taiwanese lawmakers -- six each from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the main opposition Kuomintang, of which Chiang is a member, and one from the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party.

They are scheduled to attend the three-day 54th Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU) General Assembly and 88th APPU Council Meeting, being held in Tokyo from Monday through Wednesday at the House of Representatives First Members' Office Building, according to a press release issued by the Legislative Yuan.

In addition to attending the annual assembly, the Taiwanese lawmakers will hold talks with their Japanese counterparts to exchange views on economic and trade, cultural, and other issues of mutual interest to Taiwan and Japan, with the aim of strengthening friendly ties between the two sides, according to the press release.

The APPU was founded in 1965 by lawmakers from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand, with the aim of promoting freedom and democracy as the basis for peace and prosperity in Asia.