Signing of Japan-China Consular Agreement

October 24, 2008

On October 24 (Friday) in Beijing, Mr. Yuji Miyamoto, Japanese Ambassador to China, and Mr. Hu Zhengyue, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, signed the Agreement on Consular Relations between Japan and the People's Republic of China (the Japan-China Consular Agreement) in the presence of Mr. Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the People's Republic of China.

With a view to confirming and supplementing the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which both Japan and the People's Republic of China are state parties, the Agreement stipulates consular matters, such as inviolability of consular premises and communication with and access to nationals of the sending State including mandatory information to its consular post. The conclusion of the Agreement is significant in facilitating Japan-China consular relations and is expected to contribute to promoting friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Japan and China had repeated negotiations on the Japan-China Consular Agreement since the first negotiation in April 2003, and as a result they reached substantive agreement on the text. The Agreement has now been signed after being scrutinized in each country.

(END)