Telephone Conversation between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

June 13, 2010
Japanese

Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, held a telephone conversation with Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, for about 25 minutes from 7:15 p.m. JST on June 13.

During the conversation, Premier Wen congratulated Prime Minister Kan on his assumption of the Prime Ministership and expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the Government of Japan and the Japanese people during his recent visit to Japan. Premier Wen also referred to the participation by Dr. Yukio Hatoyama, former Prime Minister and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan, in “Japan Day” celebration and events at Shanghai World Expo 2010 on the previous day. Premier Wen added that various “Japan Day” events were popular in China.

In response to Premier Wen’s remark that the conversation set in motion a hotline between the two governments, Prime Minister Kan said that he was happy to talk over the hotline with Premier Wen for the first time. Prime Minister Kan added that he would like to place greater emphasis on the “Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests” and deepen it further.

Prime Minister Kan referred to the agreements reached during Premier Wen’s recent visit to Japan including the Japan-China Food Safety Promotion Initiative and an early start of negotiations on the international agreements based on the bilateral agreement in 2008 with regard to resource exploration in the East China Sea. Prime Minister Kan added that Japan would like to launch the negotiations at an early date so as to materialize the “Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests.” In response, Premier Wen said that what was important at present was the implementation of the agreements reached during his visit. In this context, Premier Wen mentioned in particular the launch of negotiations on the international agreements to implement the 2008 agreement with regard to resource exploration in the East China Sea, an early conclusion of the Japan-China Search and Rescue Agreement, and an early establishment of communication mechanisms between the defense authorities of the two countries.

The two leaders agreed to keep close coordination in responding to international economic issues.

Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to maintain close consultation concerning the sinking of the Republic of Korea’s navy patrol vessel.

(END)

Back to Index