President Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday that Taiwan had pledged about Tw$5.7 billion ($190 million) for quake and tsunami-hit Japan in a record donation of foreign aid by the island.

"It shows our sincere concern," Ma told the visiting vice speaker of Japan's House of Representatives Eto Seishiro.

A legion of Taiwanese celebrities took part in two televised fundraisers in Taipei to raise about $30 million within a week after northeast Japan was devastated by a 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami on March 11.

Ma's government has donated $3 million while many other groups and charities have also contributed to the Japanese disaster relief, officials said.

Taiwan maintains cordial ties with Japan despite its past as a Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945, and despite the fact that Tokyo recognises Beijing over Taipei.

Last month, the Japanese government announced an initial $49 billion special budget for areas hit by the quake and tsunami, which left some 25,000 people dead or missing.

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