Visit to Japan by Premier Zhu Rongji of the People's Republic of China
Japan-China Leaders Summit Meeting (Summary)

13 October 2000
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Japan-China Leaders Summit Meeting took place at the Official Residence of the Prime Minister for over two hours on Friday 13 October from shortly after 10:00.
Attendees from Japan side: Minister of Finance Kiichi Miyazawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, Minister of the Economic Planning Agency Taichi Sakaiya, Minister of Transport Hajime Morita, Minister of International Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa, Japanese Ambassador to China Sakutaro Tanino, and others.
Attendees from China side: Minister of Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Minister of State Economic and Trade Commission Sheng Huaren, Minister of Finance Xiang Huaicheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Director of the Research Office of the State Council Gui Shiyong, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Chen Jian, and others.

1. Overview of Japan-China Relations: Political Areas

1) Overall view of Japan-China relations

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori stated that the Joint Communique was the basis for Japan-China friendly relations and that the Japanese position based on this Communique remained unchanged and that the Japan-China Joint Declaration of 1998 emphasized the importance of building mutual understanding and mutual trust between the countries toward the 21st century. Prime Minister Mori also stated that Japan placed importance on promoting cooperation for the coordinated contribution toward regional and global issues, as well as bilateral issues.

Premier Zhu Rongji stated that Japan-China relations were in overall good shape and that the Chinese side was eager to further promote a partnership of friendship and cooperation. He noted that President Jiang Zemin's important discourse in May and his statement in August on the occasion of the visit to China of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono that "it is important to foster Japan-China relations from the strategic standpoint" were examples that China attached importance on the Japan-China relationship. Premier Zhu further stated that Japan and China are neighbors separated by only a narrow sea and that although China had suffered a great deal in modern history at the hands of Japanese militarism, the ordinary Japanese people themselves were not responsible for this and that China hoped to further promote friendly relations on the foundation of "taking history as the mirror and looking forward to the future."

2) Invitation to Prime Minister Mori to visit China

Premier Zhu extended an invitation to Prime Minister Mori to visit China next year, and Prime Minister Mori readily accepted. (Details are to be coordinated through diplomatic channels.)

3) Hotline

Both sides confirmed the formal opening of a hotline between leaders.

4) Japanese crested ibis

Premier Zhu announced that the Chinese side would offer to send a new crested ibis as a mate for Youyou, the offspring of the pair presented on the occasion of the visit to Japan by President Jiang, to which Prime Minister Mori expressed his gratitude. (The new ibis is scheduled to arrive in Sado on 14 October.)

5) Projects commemorating the 30th anniversary of normalization of Japan-China relations

The year 2002 will be the thirtieth anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and China. Both sides shared the view to examine in detail the contents of commemorative projects in order to make them appropriate for the new millennium.

6) Marine research vessels

Prime Minister Mori noted that based on the Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting in August, both sides would continue to hold working-level talks to establish a framework for mutual prior notification, and expressed his expectation for the role of Premier Zhu in reaching an agreement as soon as possible. Premier Zhu pointed out that the main factor underlying the issue was the fact that delimitation of the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves remained unsolved between the two countries, adding that the Chinese side had no malevolent intent in its marine research activities. Premier Zhu also noted that both sides should accelerate their work and reach an agreement to establish a framework for mutual prior notification.

7) United Nations reform

Prime Minister Mori emphasized the importance of reform of the United Nations and stated that the Japanese side would like to discuss this issue through bilateral talks, including financial reform, to which Premier Zhu agreed.

2. Security Areas

Premier Zhu stated the importance of expanding security dialogue and defense exchanges. Concretely, both sides shared the view to implement mutual visits of naval vessels as a means to promoting mutual understanding and confidence building.

3. Economic Areas

1) Improvement of the investment environment

Prime Minister Mori stated that Japan would request China to make further efforts to resolve promptly and precisely issues such as the repayment of non-bank debt, the regulation of steel imports, and the authorization for local Japanese chambers of commerce and industry in China. In response, Premier Zhu stated that regarding the issue of non-bank debt, in particular the Samurai bonds of the Hainan International Trust and Investment Corporation, he would move towards resolution of the issue that would protect the legitimate interests of Japanese creditors in accordance with international customs and laws. With regard to the request to the Chinese side to provide business licenses for Japanese insurance companies to operate in China, Premier Zhu stated that he would consider prompt response measures after listening to Prime Minister Mori's remarks.

2) "The great development of the West"

Premier Zhu explained that the main purposes of the "great development of the West" project were to: (1) build infrastructure; (2) conserve and improve the ecological environment; and (3) promote science and technology and education. He noted that the framework for the "great development of the West" would be a large-scale and long-lasting plan and hoped for the participation of Japanese companies. In response, Prime Minister Mori pointed out that it was vital to promote cooperation initiated by the private sector, and it was important for the Chinese side to take drastic and concrete measures, including the improvement of the investment environment. In addition, it was announced that the Japanese side was making preparations to dispatch a joint government-private sector mission to China with the aim of making on-site evaluations, at an appropriate time during the first half of 2001.

3) Official development assistance (ODA) to China

Prime Minister Mori stated that with regard to the future modalities for economic assistance to China, a variety of discussions took place in Japan, including critical opinions, and in order to promote assistance to China it was inevitable to ensure the understanding and support of the Japanese people and to strengthen efforts in public relations by the Chinese side. In response, Premier Zhu noted that Japan's official development assistance (ODA) has been a great help in the economic development and nation building in China, adding that it has made a large contribution to the promotion of economic relations between the two countries. Premier Zhu also noted that China would further strengthen efforts in public relations and, regarding the provision of the Special Yen Loans, he expressed gratitude and understanding for the demonstration of friendly intentions from Japan.

4) Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway project

Premier Zhu expressed his intention to deepen his understanding of the technologies of the linear car train systems and Shinkansen bullet train, because he would be taking a ride on both means of transport. Prime Minister Mori stated that he would like to see the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway project as a symbol of Japan-China friendly relationship for the twenty-first century, adding that the realization of the linear car train systems would be a challenge for the future, since it was still in the trial stages.

5) Environmental cooperation

Premier Zhu stated that in regard to the protection of the ecological systems, future tasks include work on measures for preventing sand erosion and afforestation. In this regard, Premier Zhu expressed his high evaluation of the visit to China by the Diet members of the greenification movement under the "Obuchi Fund" and their activities in tree planting.

4. ASEAN +3

Prime Minister Mori welcomed the trend of recent years toward strengthening regional cooperation through the ASEAN+3 framework, especially the the "Chiang Mai Initiative," stating that in the future he hoped to make use of this framework to further promote cooperation with China. Furthermore, Prime Minister Mori express his high evaluation of the trilateral summit meeting among Japan, China and the Republic of Korea over breakfast at the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting last year, and proposed to hold a similar meeting this year in Singapore. In response, Premier Zhu welcomed Japan's proactive role toward enhancing regional cooperation and highly evaluated the role of the framework of ASEAN+3, and agreed to further promote this cooperation. Both sides shared the view to continue the Japan-China-Republic of Korea trilateral dialogue at the leader level. (The Republic of Korea has already shown its approval.)