Boao Forum for Asia
Meeting Between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhu Rongji
(Overview)
April 12, 2002
On 12 April, on the occasion of the Boao Forum for Asia, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhu Rongji from 18:30 to 19:20, Japan time. (Attendees: Chinese side: Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan, Governor of the People's Bank of China Dai Xianglong, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, among others. Japanese side: Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Heizo Takenaka, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kosei Ueno, and Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami, among others) The following is an outline of the meeting.
1. Opening Remarks
In opening, Premier Zhu stated that he very much appreciated Prime Minister Koizumi's attendance at the Boao Forum for Asia and that the Keynote Speech delivered by the Prime Minister that morning had been very wonderful and rich in content. In particular, Premier Zhu stated that the recognition of Prime Minister Koizumi's clear statement about China's economic development not being viewed as a threat, would contribute to the development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and Japan.
2. Overall Japan-China Relations (including a Japan-China Economic Partnership Consultation and yen loans to China)
(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that through his visit to China in October 2001, and at the ASEAN+3 (Japan, China, Republic of Korea) Summit meeting in November 2001, followed by this Boao Forum for Asia, he had been able to meet with Premier Zhu and deepen their friendship. In addition, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that through meetings also with President Jiang Zemin and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Li Peng, he had truly felt the importance of friendly relations between Japan and China. Concerning the statement he had made in his speech at the Boao Forum about his perception of China's development being not a threat, but an opportunity for Japan, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that under fair rules, a competitive relationship could be to the benefit of Japan-China relations and the development of the region. He added that at times friction, such as the safeguard issues that arose between Japan and China in 2001, would occur, but that the two countries could and continue to be able to resolve such issues through dialogue. In addition, Prime Minister Koizumi proposed that in order to strengthen dialogue in economic areas, a Japan-China Economic Partnership Consultation be established at the officials' level.
(2) In response, Premier Zhu agreed with the proposal for a Japan-China Economic Partnership Consultation, stating that with such consultation, he expected that any disputes could be preempted at an early stage. In addition, Premier Zhu stated that Japan was China's largest trading partner and such trade relations were of mutual benefit to both countries, noting that since 1979, Japanese yen loans had played a significant role in China's economic development. He stated that although the system of yen loan commitment had changed, the role that had been played by them in achieving development in China had been highly and sufficiently praised.
3. Prime Minister Koizumi's Visit to China (including the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations)
(1) Premier Zhu stated that in 2000, on the occasion of his visit to Japan, he had extended an invitation to then-Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to visit China. He noted that the previous visit to China by Prime Minister Koizumi was a working visit in 2001. He expressed the hope that he would be able to welcome Prime Minister Koizumi on an official visit to China, stating that he hoped a visit could be realized in the autumn, when the weather in Beijing would be at its best.
(2) In response, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he would gladly and seriously look into the possibility of paying an official visit to China in the autumn of 2002. In addition, the Prime Minister stated that at the beginning of April, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Li Peng had paid a visit to Japan and receptions for "Japan Year" and "China Year" had been successfully held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations. In response, Premier Zhu stated that were Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to China to be realized in the autumn, it would represent a significant event in this 30th anniversary year, and that during this year mutual visits of 5,000 Chinese citizens to Japan, and 10,000 Japanese citizens to China were being planned.
(3) Prime Minister Koizumi pointed out that in the future it could be the case that various issues would arise between Japan and China, but that with the exchange that is a part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary year, he was eager to further develop relations between the two countries. Premier Zhu also stated that it was impossible for the two countries to agree on absolutely everything, and yet their friendship would last for an eternity and relations of friendship and cooperation between Japan and China were in accord with the benefit to both nations and their people. Premier Zhu stated that there was no future for both nations other than friendship and cooperative relations.
4. The Suspicious Boat Incident in the Waters Off the Southwest Coast of Kyushu
(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that concerning the suspicious boat incident, on the occasion of Chairman Li Peng's visit to Japan, he had stated his own intention to endeavor to resolve the issue calmly and discreetly through dialogue. He related how in response, Chairman Li had stated that a resolution mutually satisfying to both countries should be sought, and that he would like to gain Premier Zhu's understanding and cooperation following the proper procedures in order that this issue be resolved through calm dialogue in a manner that would be acceptable to both sides, without recourse to political or diplomatic issues.
(2) In response, Premier Zhu concurred that the issue should be dealt with in a calm and prudent manner and that although the boat in question was unrelated to China, the place where it had sunk was in China's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chinese domestic laws, it therefore came under Chinese jurisdiction. Premier Zhu stated that domestic opinion was also having some influence and that dialogue should be advanced in a calm and prudent manner, with the Government of China intending to resolve the issue based on international and domestic laws, through dialogue with Japan. He stated that dialogue was already underway between the relevant diplomatic authorities and that were the consultations to proceed prudently, he was convinced that the issue would be able to be resolved by all means.
5. Issues Relating to North Korea
(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that on the occasion of his recent visit to the Republic of Korea he had discussed the issue of the abduction cases of Japanese nationals by North Korea with President Kim Dae Jung and that he also wished to speak to China about this issue, in view of the influence China has on North Korea. Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the United States of America also has not closed off the path to dialogue with North Korea, that Japan was also hoping for dialogue and that both countries supported the engagement policy of the Republic of Korea. The Prime Minister stated that what was important was to make North Korea understand that dialogue is to its advantage and that he would like to promote the talks toward the normalization of diplomatic relations without neglecting the abduction issues as they are serious humanitarian problems for the Japanese people. Prime Minister Koizumi noted that in talks between President George W. Bush and President Kim Dae Jung, he thought it is important to make North Korea understand that dialogue would not collapse the country, but would rather be of benefit to the country and its people.
(2) In response, Premier Zhu stated that recently the situation in North Korea was becoming more relaxed and that he believed the situation was heading in a good direction, with good prospects.
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