Japan-China Relations

1. Minister Wang welcomed the Japanese delegation’s visit to China including Minister Iwaya and Minister Abe, and while referring to the history of friendship and exchange between the two countries for over 2,000 years, expressed that he hopes that the meeting would lead to the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries. Minister Wang also stated that it is important for Japan and China to share their knowledge and enhance people-to-people exchanges, in promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and building “constructive and stable relationship,” and that he seeks for the Japanese and Chinese governments to cooperate towards promoting more exchanges that have adapted to the trend of the times.
2. Minister Iwaya stated that he welcomes the resumption of the Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue after its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that he hopes to elevate the “quality” of exchanges and restart people-to-people and cultural exchanges in a way that takes into account the needs of the times. Minister Iwaya also stated that in order for Japan and China to build a “constructive and stable relationship,” above anything else, the exchanges between the citizens of both countries is the foundation, and he welcomed the resumption of visa exemption measures in China, and announced that Japan has decided to implement a series of visa relaxation measures related to tourism for Chinese citizens.
   In addition, Minister Iwaya emphasized that in order to restore the number of travelers from Japan to China and promote mutual exchange, it is important to ensure the safety and security of all Japanese people who are staying in China, including that of short-term travelers.
3. Director Sun stated that people-to-people exchanges and cultural exchanges are the pillars that connect the hearts of the people of both countries, and that this meeting plays an important role in realizing the common recognition of the leaders of both countries to promote exchanges between the two countries. Director Sun also stated that he would like to work towards improving the mutual understanding between the people of both countries by strengthening the support provided by relevant organizations in both Japan and China, as well as by bringing out the potential for cooperation between companies.
4. Minister Abe stated that she was pleased to hold and attend the Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue, which is being held for the first time in five years, and that people-to-people exchange, including cultural and sporting exchange, play a major role in deepening mutual understanding between the citizens of the two countries, and that educational exchange is extremely important fostering for the friendly relations between the two countries into the future, and that she hoped that this dialogue would lead to further developing the bilateral relationship between Japan and China.

1. Both sides confirmed that the governments of Japan and China would support exchanges between the two countries in order to revitalize two-way people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Japan and China.
2. Both sides confirmed that, after the COVID-19 pandemic, they would restart people-to-people and cultural exchanges that takes into account the needs of the times. Further, in implementing exchange projects between Japan and China, they concurred to work together to enhance opportunities for youth exchanges and exchanges between experts, as well as to improve the quality of programs in accordance with the themes set for each program.
3. Both sides concurred to deepen exchanges with the view of contributing to the regional revitalization of both Japan and China through means such as activating cooperation between friendship cities and hold of events to promote the attractiveness of local areas.
4. Both sides confirmed that they would strengthen online communications, including through social networking services (SNS), in light of the fact that SNS are widely used by people of a wide range of generations in both countries, and that they would create online content to introduce the cultures of both countries to each other on a regular basis.

1. Both sides confirmed the importance of youth exchanges in promoting mutual understanding among young people and in developing human resources that will contribute to the stabilization of Japan-China relations over the medium to long term.
2. The two sides concurred to steadily implement the “Five-Year Plan for Educational Exchange between Japan and China” and promote mutual acceptance of school trips, and cases to promote exchanges, including sports and cultural activities at local governments, high schools, and universities, make efforts to foster a suitable environment in both countries and create model cases. They also confirmed the continuation and promotion of exchange projects for Japanese and Chinese high school and university students.
3. Both sides concurred on aiming towards restoring tourism exchange to pre-COVID19 levels as soon as possible. Both sides concurred on promoting tourism to local areas by providing special experiences that make use of the unique tourism resources of each region, and by creating new travel products and developing sales channels.
4. The two sides confirmed that they would promote exchange projects and also confirmed that they would promote efforts such as the “2025-2026 Japan-China-Korea Cultural Exchange Year” and the “East Asia Cultural City”. The two sides confirmed that the Japan Foundation's “Fureai no Ba” is an important base for disseminating Japanese culture to young people and for promoting cultural exchange at the student level, and confirmed that they would cooperate to ensure its smooth use.
5. The two sides confirmed that they would cooperate to implement the agreement on promoting sports exchange and cooperation between the two countries (including mutual cooperation towards the success of the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025, China, and the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, Japan) and enhancing the socio-economic value of sports, which were concurred on at in the “2024 Tokyo Joint Declaration” adopted at the 5th Japan-China-ROK Sports Ministers' Meeting held in Tokyo this month.
6. Both sides confirmed that they would enhance exchanges with the aim of developing healthy friendly relations between the two countries through interactive exchanges using content such as films and through the resolution of common issues related to cultural policy, including copyrights. Both sides confirmed the importance of mutual cooperation on realizing the transparency of regulations on foreign contents (including broadcast content such as animation and games) in China and anti-piracy measures, and confirmed that they would work together to create an environment in which creators in both countries can engage in creative activities with a sense of security. Both sides concurred to promote cooperation based on the Japan-China Film Co-production Agreement, including reciprocal visits by personnel in the film industry, and confirmed that the Japan-China Memorandum of Understanding on Co-production of Audiovisual Works is important as a means of promoting co-production of image work such as animation, drama and documentary films for broadcasting and distribution, and concurred to make efforts towards its early signing.
7. The Japanese side expressed that they hope to hold at an early timing the Japan-China Press Secretary Consultations and reinvigorate media exchanges that are organized by the private sector.
8. Both sides concurred to work together on women's empowerment which is a common global issue, including the promotion of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS), in both bilateral and multilateral forums.
9. Both sides concurred to further revitalize tourism exchanges through the opportunity provided by the next year’s Expo 2025 Kansai, Osaka by strengthening the dissemination of information through medium including websites and SNS.

The Chinese side once again explained that the visa exemption measures for short-term stays for ordinary passport holders from Japan were resumed at the end of November this year, and that the period of stay was extended from the previous 15 days to 30 days. In response, the Japanese side announced that it would implement a series of visa relaxation measures related to tourism for Chinese people, including the establishment of new multiple-entry tourist visas valid for 10 years and an extension of the maximum period of stay for group tourist visas. In addition, the Japanese side explained that they introduced measures to exempt visa fees for all foreigners, including for Chinese people who are, visiting Japan for the Expo 2025 Kansai, Osaka.
The two sides discussed the importance of ensuring the safety and security of all Japanese people staying in China, including that of short-term visitors, and concurred to continue to closely cooperate between Japanese diplomatic missions in China and the Chinese local authorities.

The two sides concurred to follow up on the outcomes of this meeting through dialogue frameworks at the working-level. The two sides confirmed that they would coordinate towards holding the third meeting in Japan at an appropriate timing.