Summary of Japan-China Ministerial Meeting
December 2009
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada held talks and had a working dinner with Minister Yang Jiechi of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who visited Japan from November 19 to November 22, for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes beginning at 7:25 PM on November 19.
1. Japan-China Relations
(1) General overview of Japan-China relations
(i) Current Japan-China relations
Minister Okada welcomed Minister Yang on his official visit to Japan, and stated that Japan and China have had dialog on a variety of issues between their counterparts and that he would like to further promote active cooperation not only in the bilateral relationship but also in regional and global issues. Minister Yang stated that it is worthwhile to have dialog on a variety of subjects, including between Foreign Ministries, and agreed to strengthen such dialogs in the future.
Furthermore, Minister Okada pointed out that exchanges in the area of national security, including mutual visits of both countries' naval vessels and defense agencies are important and welcomed the visit to Japan by General Liang Guanglie, a State Councilor and Minister of National Defense of China. Both Minister Okada and Minister Yang agreed that it is important to actively carry out youth exchanges, and also to have exchanges between middle management executives and the media of the two countries.
(ii) Future high-level visits
Minister Okada once again extended a welcome to Premier Wen Jiabao of China for his official visit next year, and noted that for the third High-level Economic Dialog which would be held in China next year, he would like to fully prepare himself since he will chair the proceedings. Minister Yang explained that China is making preparations for their leader to visit Japan and expressed desire for Prime Minister Hatoyama and Minister Okada to visit the Expo 2010 Shanghai China. Minister Okada conveyed his desire to ensure the success of next year's APEC summit as a host country, and Minister Yang responded by expressing China's desire to cooperate toward its success, especially given the expected attendance of leaders.
(2) Follow-up on the Summit Meeting
(i) Resource development in the East China Sea
Minister Okada stated, as did Prime Minister Hatoyama in Singapore, that he would like to promote cooperation toward making the region's seas into Seas of Yu-ai, or "Fraternity," and expressed his hope that Japan and China would both take the lead in realizing this in the East China Sea. Minister Okada indicated that it was necessary to start negotiations to conclude international agreements promptly on the issue of resource development in the East China Sea. Minister Yang replied that he would like to deal with the issue appropriately by fully adhering to the agreements on the East China Sea, and that China is hastening its consideration of an early holding of the working-level consultation proposed by President Hu to Prime Minister Hatoyama at the Summit Meeting in New York.
(ii) Food safety
Minister Okada stated his desire for the relevant agencies of both countries to advance coordination on the Japan-China Food Safety Promotion Initiative on which fundamental agreement was reached at the recent Summit Meeting and to create at an early date a framework for cooperation that includes substantial content so as to provide peace of mind to citizens. Minister Okada also requested China's continued cooperation in conducting complete investigation into the dumpling incident. Minister Yang stated that the relevant agencies were already in contact and would like to reach an agreement as soon as possible concerning the creation of a framework for food safety, that China's public security agency is continuing its investigation into the dumpling incident, and, that since it is a criminal incident transcending national boarders, China would like to cooperate in this matter with Japan through the relevant public safety agencies in both countries.
(iii) New Japan-China Friendship Committee for the 21st Century
Minister Okada explained that Chair of the board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Taizo Nishimuro, would be Chairman of the Committee, and that other committee members have also been confirmed. Minister Yang stated that former State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan would be Chairman for China, and the two Ministers exchanged lists of names of committee members. The two Ministers also agreed to coordinate going forward on holding the first meeting of the Committee early on.
2. Issues in the region and in international society
(1) Issue of climate change
Minister Okada indicated that the role of the United States and China, as the countries with the largest emissions, is substantial, and stated that he expected China to announce surprising figures regarding the amount of CO2 emissions per unit of GDP that President Hu declared at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in September. Minister Yang stated his desire to cooperate toward the success of COP15 in accordance with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities."
(2) North Korean issues
Minister Okada and Minister Yang welcomed the announcement on the upcoming visit by Ambassador Bosworth, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, to North Korea. Both Ministers agreed that achieving peace and stability in Northeast Asia through an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and normalization of relations between North Korea and countries concerned, is a common goal for Japan and China, and agreed to maintain close coordination.
(3) Cooperation in the East Asian region
Both Ministers shared the view that close cooperation is necessary in order to steadily implement the outcomes of the recent Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit in Beijing, taking into account that the next Trilateral Summit will be held in the Republic of Korea next year. In particular, both Ministers agreed on the importance of actively promoting the joint study on the Trilateral FTA that will be carried out by industry, government and academic participants. Moreover, Minister Yang referred to his wish for an early conclusion of the Trilateral Investment Agreement.
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