Press Releases
The Second Round Meeting of Japan-China High-Level Consultation on Maritime Affairs
September 24, 2014
On September 23 and 24, the second round meeting of the Japan-China high-level consultation on maritime affairs was held in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, the People’s Republic of China. An overview of the meeting is as follows (participants of the Japanese side included Mr. Makita Shimokawa, Deputy Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (head of the Japanese delegation) and the representatives from the following ministries; Cabinet Secretariat, Secretariat of Headquarters for Ocean Policy; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Fisheries Agency; Agency for Natural Resources and Energy; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Japan Coast Guard; Ministry of the Environment; and Ministry of Defense. Participants of the Chinese side included Mr. Yi Xianliang, Deputy Director General of Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, head of Chinese delegation and representatives from the following ministries; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of National Defense; Ministry of Public Security; Ministry of Transport; Ministry of Agriculture; National Energy Administration; State Oceanic Administration, China Coast Guard; and General Staff Headquarters):
Plenary Meeting
(Chairpersons of the meeting: Mr. Shimokawa and Mr. Yi)
1. At the beginning, the head of both sides delivered opening remarks and shared their own recognitions on the latest conditions of Japan-China relations concerning maritime issues. Both sides confirmed that the resumption of the meeting held for the first time in two years since the first meeting held in May 2012 was meaningful from viewpoints of enhancement of mutual understanding, strengthening of cooperation and crisis management including communication.
2. Relevant organizations related to maritime affairs of both countries then shared their own views on major challenges and efforts. They exchanged opinions on issues that both countries are commonly interested in. Furthermore, concerning the current situations, both sides held frank discussions on various issues between the two countries.
3. In addition, both sides reached a shared view in principle to resume consultations for an early implementation of a maritime communication mechanism between the defense authorities of the two countries.
4. Concerning the next meeting, both sides shared their views that it would be held in Japan by the end of this year or early next year and details of the meeting would be arranged through a diplomatic route.
Plenary Meeting
(Chairpersons of the meeting: Mr. Shimokawa and Mr. Yi)
1. At the beginning, the head of both sides delivered opening remarks and shared their own recognitions on the latest conditions of Japan-China relations concerning maritime issues. Both sides confirmed that the resumption of the meeting held for the first time in two years since the first meeting held in May 2012 was meaningful from viewpoints of enhancement of mutual understanding, strengthening of cooperation and crisis management including communication.
2. Relevant organizations related to maritime affairs of both countries then shared their own views on major challenges and efforts. They exchanged opinions on issues that both countries are commonly interested in. Furthermore, concerning the current situations, both sides held frank discussions on various issues between the two countries.
3. In addition, both sides reached a shared view in principle to resume consultations for an early implementation of a maritime communication mechanism between the defense authorities of the two countries.
4. Concerning the next meeting, both sides shared their views that it would be held in Japan by the end of this year or early next year and details of the meeting would be arranged through a diplomatic route.
(* The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)