Japan-China Relations

On November 25, commencing at around 5:00 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide received a courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of the People's Republic of China, during his visit to Japan. The overview is as follows:

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Suga welcomed State Councilor Wang's visit to Japan, expressing his delight at the resumption of travel by dignitaries between Japan and China, which has been halted due to the spread of novel coronavirus infections. Prime Minister Suga also stated that as he had also told President Xi Jinping at the time of the recent summit telephone talk, a stable relationship between Japan and China is vital not only for Japan and China, but also for the region and the international community, and that he hopes that both countries will fulfill their responsibilities.
2. In response, State Councilor Wang delivered greetings from President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, noting how high-level communication and mutual efforts are taking overall Japan-China relations in a favorable direction. He also stated that he hoped that the two countries will cooperate together in various areas.
3. Prime Minister Suga strongly requested a positive action from China with regard to maritime and security issues, including in the East China Sea, particularly the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands. He also requested a similarly positive response with regard to the early removal of import restrictions on Japanese food products, the resumption of exports of Japanese beef, and the realization of expanded exports of polished rice. Prime Minister Suga also conveyed Japan's concerns with regard to the situation in Hong Kong, and requested cooperation from China concerning the response to North Korea, including the abductions issue.
4. Both sides confirmed that they would work together for the success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer and the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games the year after next.