Press Releases
Japan-China Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
October 9, 2024
On October 9, commencing at 6:00 p.m. for approximately 45 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with Mr. H.E. Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Iwaya introduced himself and Minister Wang offered his congratulations to Minister Iwaya on his assumption of the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- The two ministers confirmed that Japan and China share a broad direction of comprehensively promoting a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests” and building “constructive and stable Japan-China relations.” Minister Iwaya emphasized his intention to work together with Minister Wang so that the people of both countries could benefit from the development of Japan-China relations and tangibly feel its effect, through the efforts of both governments.
- The two ministers both expressed their appreciation for the announcements made by their respective governments regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and China’s import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products, and Minister Iwaya called for the early restoration of imports of Japanese aquatic products.
- Minister Iwaya reiterated Japan’s serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea, including the buoy installed by China, and the intensification of Chinese military activities, including the intrusion into Japan’s territorial airspace by a Chinese military aircraft in August and the navigation of an aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy in the vicinity of Japanese territorial waters in September, and called for a full explanation of the intrusion into Japan’s territorial airspace. In addition, with regards to Taiwan, Minister Iwaya stated that Japan is closely monitoring relevant developments, including military activities, and reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the international community, including Japan.
- Further, Minister Iwaya, while pointing out that the detention of Japanese nations in China and the incident in Shenzhen where a Japanese School student was assaulted by a thug and later passed away has caused heightened anxiety among Japanese nationals residing in China, urged the Chinese side to clarify the facts as soon as possible, and proposed that the respective consular authorities of both countries confirm means to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The two ministers concurred to continue communications on this matter.
- The two ministers discussed possible cooperation between Japan and China and concurred to continue dialogue and consultation towards the materialization of cooperation.