Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has visited Japan's liaison office in Taipei to offer condolences over the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

Tsai visited the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's office on Monday. She was wearing a badge symbolizing friendship between Japan and Taiwan on the collar of her dark suit.

Tsai bowed deeply after laying flowers in front of a portrait of Abe.

She wrote a message describing Abe as Taiwan's eternal good friend and expressing thanks for his contributions to the Japan-Taiwan friendship as well as to democracy, freedom, human rights and peace around the world.

Tsai then read a statement, recalling how she and Abe talked online in March and both said they wanted to meet again in Taiwan soon. She said Taiwan and Japan would keep working together to deepen their friendship, and to create a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Taiwan's other top officials, including Premier Su Tseng-chang, also visited the liaison office to offer their condolences.

Tsai ordered all government offices and public schools to fly the Taiwanese flag at half-mast on Monday to honor Abe.

The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association plans to receive mourners at its Taipei office through next Sunday.