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Overview of the Japan-China Summit Meeting

May 22, 2011

Japanese

On May 22, Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, had a summit meeting with Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, for approximately one hour and 15 minutes beginning at 8:15 AM (participants from the Chinese side: Dr. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Zhang Ping, Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission; Mr. Zhou Shengxian, Minister of Environmental Protection; Dr. Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce; and Mr. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador to Japan, and others; participants from the Japanese side: Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Banri Kaieda, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry; Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary; and Mr. Uichiro Niwa, Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, and others.) The following is an overview of the meeting.

1.Assistance from China in the Wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Prime Minister Kan expressed his deep gratitude to Premier Wen for his visit on May 21 to the disaster area as well as for China's material and psychological support to Japan in regard to the Great East Japan Earthquake. Reiterating his sympathy for the victims, Premier Wen said his visit to the disaster area firmly convinced him that the Japanese people will surely overcome this difficult situation and rebuild their lives with their composure and patience.

2.High-Level Exchanges

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to deepen the "Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests." Premier Wen invited Prime Minister Kan to visit China this year. The Prime Minister said he would like to visit China at a convenient time this year. Prime Minister Kan expressed his willingness to send Foreign Minister Matsumoto to China as early as possible. Premier Wen said he welcomes the Foreign Minister' visit. Prime Minister Kan also said he welcomes a visit to Japan by Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and other Chinese delegates to attend the Fourth Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue scheduled for this summer in Tokyo.

3.Japan-China Cooperation in the Wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake

(1) Nuclear safety

Prime Minister Kan explained in detail the course of events and the current situation of the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant and expressed his regret that the accident had happened. Premier Wen expressed hope that Japan stem the leakage of radioactivity soon and continue to provide full and accurate information in a timely manner. He said China would spare no effort to provide any necessary assistance.

(2) Disaster management and disaster relief

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to ensure -prompt and smooth communications and provision and acceptance of relief teams and supplies between the two countries at times of a disaster. They also agreed to promote discussions in the field of earthquake and disaster management between the two earthquake-prone countries.

(3) The environment and energy conservation

Both sides agreed to focus on improving cooperation concerned with introducing renewable energies, promoting energy conservation, and the Smart Community initiative. They also agreed to expedite consideration of specific measures of cooperation between public and private sectors in these areas by using such fora as the Japan-China Comprehensive Energy Conservation and Environment Forum.

(4) Reconstruction assistance and tourism promotion

Both sides agreed to promote cooperation in reconstruction assistance and tourism promotion in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake (see the attached Fact Sheet for specific measures for cooperation as put forward by the both sides[PDF]).

4.Japan-China Economic Relations

(1) Import restrictions on Japanese agricultural, fishery products

Prime Minister Kan stressed that China's measures regarding import restrictions on agricultural, fishery and other products from Japan should be based on scientific evidence. In response, Premier Wen said that, on condition that the safety of the Chinese people was secured, Yamanashi and Yamagata prefectures would be removed from the list of the 12 prefectures from which food imports were banned, and the requirement for a radiation inspection certificate for foods would be dropped, with the exception of those foods whose radiation risks were thought to be high, such as dairy products, vegetables, and fishery products.

(2) Rare earth exports

Prime Minister Kan requested that appropriate steps be taken to address recent hikes in the prices of rare earth metals exported from China. In response, Premier Wen said he would appropriately manage rare earth exports in accordance with the WTO.

5.Resources development in the East China Sea

Prime Minister Kan said he would like to resume negotiations on the international agreement regarding resources development in the East China Sea in a forward-looking and future-oriented manner in order to realize the common understanding of making the waters a "Sea of Peace, Cooperation and Friendship." In response, Premier Wen stated that China's stance on putting the 2008 agreement into action remains unchanged and that he would like to improve communication towards the resumption of such negotiations.

6.Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges

(1) The Movie and TV Week and the Anime Festival

Both sides agreed to work together to successfully organize the Movie and TV Week and Anime Festival which would take place in Beijing and Shanghai in June.

(2) The 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution

Prime Minister Kan said he would like to take advantage of this year's 100th anniversary celebration of the Xinhai Revolution as an opportunity to strengthen Japan-China relations.

7.North Korea

1. （1）Prime Minister Kan stated that North Korea needs to show a positive attitude in the inter-Korean dialogue from the outset and take concrete actions to demonstrate its intention to fulfill its commitments toward denuclearization. He expressed his hope that China continues to urge North Korea to move in that direction. Noting that North Korea's uranium enrichment program is a clear violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, Prime Minister Kan stressed that North Korea must show commitment to this issue. He said it is important that the international community send a clear message to North Korea for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks and reiterated his expectation of a positive response from China.
2. （2）With respect to the abduction issue, Prime Minister Kan asked for China's continued understanding and cooperation and called for China‘s efforts to press North Korea.

8.Human Rights

Prime Minister Kan stated that he would like to work closely with China to pursue, as well as further the understanding of, the basic and universal values of human rights shared by the international community by using forums such as the Japan-China Human Rights Dialogue.

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