Provisional Translation

Foreign Minister Kono's Visit to China: Meeting with the Communist Party Central Committee's Organization Department Head Zeng Qinghong
(Summary)

August 29, 2000
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On August 29 Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, who was visiting China, held talks with the Communist Party Central Committee's Organization Department Head Zeng Qinghong for about 30 minutes (from 12:30 to 13:00 Japan time); the meeting was followed by a luncheon until 14:30. There were four main topics in the talks: Zeng's visit to Japan in April, Premier Zhu Rongji's upcoming visit to Japan in October, the problem of marine research vessels, and the promotion of personnel exchange between Japan and China. The following is a summary of the meeting. Also, the luncheon centered basically on social talk. Zeng explained China's recent personnel selection system, and there were discussions about administrative reform and the reorganization of government ministries and agencies in Japan.

1. Zeng's Visit to Japan Last April

Zeng explained that he had been invited to Japan last April by the Japanese government and Liberal Democratic Party, but the visit took place in extraordinary circumstances at the time of a cabinet change. Consequently, for example, he had held two meetings with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, first as secretary general of the LDP and then as prime minister. He had also met Foreign Minister Kono twice, as foreign minister of the former cabinet and then, after Foreign Minister Kono had departed for the formation of the new cabinet, at a dinner as the foreign minister of the new cabinet. Zeng said he had been impressed that the schedule had not been cancelled despite the busy time and that he had been able to meet Prime Minister Mori twice. He remarked that it had been a memorable trip.

2. Premier Zhu's Visit to Japan in October

Foreign Minister Kono and Zeng agreed that Premier Zhu's visit to Japan in the fall would serve as a climax to the twentieth century and as a guideline for the two countries as they enter the twenty-first century and that both countries should make efforts toward the success of the visit.

3. Problem of Marine Research Vessels

Foreign Minister Kono said that in his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on the previous day (August 28), they had been able to agree on the study of certain solutions to this problem. In response, Zeng replied that he was pleased to hear this good news. Also, Zeng said that although there were matters on which the two countries did not agree, they should not let minor differences spoil the general picture. They should look for solutions through discussions, he said.

4. Promotion of Japan-China Personnel Exchange

Zeng said that personnel exchange was important to further promote Japan-China relations. He especially wanted to promote exchange among young politicians. In response, Foreign Minister Kono said that he shared Zeng's view.