Visit to China by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Foreign Minister for Japan
(Overview)
March 1, 2009
1. Schedule
Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone paid his first official visit to China, and (i) had a foreign ministerial meeting with Dr. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and attended a dinner hosted by Chinese Minister Yang on February 28th in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, (ii) made a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on March 1st in the Zhongnanhai compound, and (iii) had a meeting with State Councilor Mr. Dai Bingguo, also in the Zhongnanhai compound, on March 1.
2. Overview of the Foreign Ministerial Meeting and Dinner Hosted by Dr. Yang
(1) General Remark on Japan-China Relations
The two Ministers pointed out that significant progress was made in Japan-China relations last year, including the release of the Joint Statement between the Governments of Japan and the People's Republic of China on Comprehensive Promotion of a "Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests." Minister Nakasone noted that Japan and China had a relationship in which we could discuss about global issues and under which we would fulfill our responsibilities within the international community together. He pointed out that there would be various problems between Japan and China, but that it was important that both countries would deal with these issues from a broad standpoint and resolve them with composure. Chinese Minister Yang stated that both Japan and China were taking their responsibilities seriously, and that room for cooperation between the two countries were expanding. Furthermore, the Chinese side welcomed again Japanese Prime Minister's visit to China within this year, and the two ministers agreed that preparations for it would be made through diplomatic channels.
(2) Details of Japan-China Relations
(A) Educational Exchanges, etc.
Minister Nakasone placed particular importance on teachers exchanges in order to gain mutual understanding between Japan and China and proposed the exchange of 1500 teachers over the next three years (the Teachers Exchanges Initiative for Creating the Future), and received the agreement of Chinese Minister Yang. Furthermore, Minister Nakasone pointed out that "the Japan-China Youth Friendship Exchange Year" held in 2008 played a significant role in mutual understanding. The two ministers confirmed that steady progress would be made in Japan-China youth exchanges this year as well.
(B) Treaties on Criminal Justice
The two ministers agreed to start early consultation on the conclusion of the bilateral treaty on extradition and the bilateral treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons.
(C) Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue
The two ministers agreed that as the economic relationship between Japan and China had an increasingly significant impact on the world economy, it was greatly important for both Japan and China to hold the Second Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue as soon as possible.
(D) Cooperation in Search and Rescue Operations for Maritime Disasters in the East China Sea
The two ministers agreed to start early studies for the conclusion of Search and Rescue Agreement between Japan and China as a concrete step to make the East China Sea a "Sea of Peace, Cooperation, and Friendship."
(E) Resource Development in the East China Sea
Minister Nakasone expressed that it was deeply regrettable consultations on the conclusion of an international agreement had not yet begun since last year's agreement, and pointed out the responsible and courageous step was needed. Chinese Minister Yang stated that last year's agreement was achieved as a result of collaborative efforts of Japan and China, and that the agreement was beneficial for two countries. He also stated that the issue received high attention in each country and that China desired to continue working level consultations.
(F) Security
The two ministers agreed that the increase of mutual trust was most important in the security area, that there was a steady progress in exchanges between the defense authorities of both countries, and that security dialogue between Japan and China would be held in Tokyo in the near future. Minister Nakasone expressed his concern over the trends of the strengthening and modernization of the Chinese military power, and requested restraint to such trends and increase of transparency. In response, the Chinese minister explained about its efforts, including issuing a White Paper on the National Defense, and also explained that China's strategic intentions were clear in these efforts.
(G) "Food Safety"
Minister Nakasone stated that it was important to remove the anxieties of Japanese consumers, and that it was unfortunate that the dumpling incident had remained unresolved for a year, and requested to conduct complete investigation as early as possible. Minister Nakasone also pointed out that a sense of distrust had been growing in Japan because of this incident, and requested the Chinese side to provide relevant information including the information on the progress of the investigation. Chinese Minister Yang explained that the Chinese Government placed high importance on food safety, and that as a criminal case the authorities were conducting a serious investigation of the incident.
(H) The Senkaku Islands
The Chinese Minister raised the issue, and Minister Nakasone made a clear explanation regarding the principle position of Japan. The two ministers shared the view that while the position of each country is different, they would make efforts to prevent the issue from causing damage to overall Japan-China relations.
(I) Tibet
Chinese Minister Yang explained the Chinese stance on Tibet, and Minister Nakasone expressed wish for the progress of the Chinese dialogue with the Dalai Lama side.
(J) Human Rights
Minister Nakasone pointed out the importance of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, which are both universal values of the international community.
(K) Abandoned Chemical Weapons in China
Chinese Minister Yang stated that there were delays in the work of dealing with abandoned chemical weapons. Minister Nakasone stated that the Japanese side would make the best effort to early determinate of delay with it.
(3) The Regional and International Situation
(A)The International Financial Situation and the World Economy
Minister Nakasone pointed out that expansion of domestic demand in Japan and China would also contribute to repairing inequalities in the global economy. The two ministers reached an agreement with the importance of the expansion of trade, the restraint of protectionism, and cooperation toward the London Summit to be held in April. Chinese Minister Yang referred to the cooperation between the two countries, cooperation at the regional level, and cooperation in the framework of ASEAN+3, and EAS.
(B) North Korea
The two ministers agreed to cooperate closely to achieve the comprehensive resolution of North Korea issues, including the abductions, the development of nuclear weapons, and ballistic missiles. They also confirmed that the Six-Party Talks, they would promote cooperation among the involved nations in order to realize the verifiable and complete denuclearization of North Korea, and that these efforts would be centered around China, the host country of the talks. In addition, Minister Nakasone expressed the idea that even if North Korea had asserted its position of launching artificial satellites, such a launch would be the violation of the Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, both sides agreed that from the perspective that North Korea should not take action that would raise tensions and threaten the peace and security of the region, they would continue to observe the situation with caution, and keep in close contact.
(C) Pakistan
Minister Nakasone introduced a plan of holding an international aid conference for Pakistan and a meeting of the Friends of Pakistan Group back-to-back in Tokyo.
(D) Japan-China-Korea Cooperation
Minister Nakasone stated that the Japan-China-Korea Trilateral Summit held in Fukuoka late last year had great historic significance, and that he also expected the leadership from China, which would be this year's host country. The two ministers agreed that they would cooperate toward the success of the next summit meeting.
(E) Others
The two ministers also referred to the visits to Japan and China by the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
3. The Courtesy Call on Premier Wen Jiabao
At the beginning of the meeting, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao welcomed Minister Nakasone's visit to China. He also noted that it was important to (1) maintain mutual visits at the top level, (2) to strengthen cooperation in responding to the financial crisis, and (3) to strengthen exchanges between the two countries, especially between the youth with regard to the Japan-China relations.
Minister Nakasone stated that he had exchanged views on the varieties of fields with Chinese Minister Yang, and that they reached agreement particularly in the following issues such as the start of the Teachers Exchanges Initiative for Creating the Future, the early start of the consultation for the conclusion of the bilateral treaty on extradition and the transfer of sentenced person and early start of studies on the conclusion of SAR agreement.
Also, Minister Nakasone stated Japan's position on the Development of the Natural Resource in the East China Sea, North Korea issues, and Food Safety issues including the dumpling incident, and exchanged views with Premier Wen.
4. The Meeting with State Councilor Dai Bingguo
At the beginning of the meeting, State Councilor Dai Bingguo expressed his satisfaction that Minister Nakasone and Chinese Minister Yang discussed not only bilateral topics, but a wide range of issues of the international community, and that the foreign ministerial meeting had a plentiful fruits. State Councilor Dai also stated that as one involved in the process of the improvement of Japan-China relations to the present state, the current friendly Japan-China relationship was the one which required hard effort to achieve, and that each side must continue to make efforts to maintain it.
Based on the discussions at the Japan-China foreign ministerial meeting, Minister Nakasone mentioned the importance of maintaining high-level dialogue between Japan and China. He also stated the start of the Teachers Exchanges Initiative for Creating the Future and the early start of the consultation for the conclusion of the bilateral treaty on extradition and the transfer of sentenced person and early start of studies on the conclusion of SAR agreement. He requested State Councilor Dai for the restrained stance and the increase of transparency in the security area. He also mentioned and exchanged views with State Councilor Dai about the following issues; the North Korea issue, early holding of Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue, cooperation in economic area, especially for the early conclusion of negotiations of the Doha Development Round of the WTO, cooperation in reforming U.N. Security Council, and close consultations toward the COP15 with regards to the climate change issue.
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