Japan-China Relations
Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
September 21, 2017
On September 21, commencing at around 3:45 p.m. (around 4:45 a.m. on September 22, Japan time) for approximately 45 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting New York to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly high-level week, held a Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1 Japan-China relations
- The two sides welcomed the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China on September 29 this year, and shared the view that they will work on the further improvement of the relationship and continue to build a stable bilateral relationship, while dealing with matters of concern appropriately.
- The two sides exchanged views on the main diplomatic schedule ahead, from the perspective that close communication between the two countries’ leaders and foreign ministers is important, while giving thought also to realizing summit-level mutual visits in the future. Minister Kono stated that he hopes to hold a Japan-China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Summit in Japan within this year. The two sides shared the view that they will undertake concrete coordination going forward.
- Minister Kono mentioned that he hopes to visit China at an early date, and Minister Wang welcomed Minister Kono's intention to visit. The two sides shared the view that they will undertake concrete coordination going forward.
- The two sides shared the view that they will pursue broad-ranging economic cooperation, and that they will place enhancement of connectivity as a part of the broad-ranging cooperation between Japan and China, where “the Belt and Road Initiatives” could also be discussed.
- The two sides confirmed the importance of strengthening discussions between the diplomatic authorities, including Japan-China Strategic Dialogue and Japan-China Security Dialogue.
- Minister Kono once again raised the matter of Japanese nationals detained in China and requested a positive response.
2 North Korea
- Minister Kono emphasized the necessity for the unity of the international community in exerting a new and unprecedented level of pressure on North Korea. He also pointed out that China has a crucial role to play, and strongly encouraged China to play a responsible and constructive role.
- The two foreign ministers confirmed that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is a common goal of both sides, that it is important to fully implement all the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and that Japan and China will continue to coordinate closely for the peace and stability of the region.