Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, urging continued cooperation between Taiwan and Japan on disaster prevention and humanitarian assistance.

According to Focus Taiwan, Lai highlighted in a social media post that Taiwan and Japan have consistently supported each other following major disasters. In the wake of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 2011, which resulted in significant casualties in Japan’s northeast, Taiwan swiftly responded with cash donations and relief supplies. Rescue teams organized by Taiwan’s government and private sector were dispatched to the affected areas within 72 hours.

Japan reciprocated these acts of support by sending a preliminary assessment team within 14 hours following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck southern Taiwan in 2016.

Lai emphasized that these mutual efforts have strengthened the bond between the Taiwanese and Japanese people. He expressed optimism that such collaborations would deepen bilateral ties and enhance the partnership between the two countries.