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Visit by Premier Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of China to Japan
Establishment of the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue

April 12, 2007

On the occasion of the visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Japan, a startup meeting to establish the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue was held at the Iikura Guest House from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on April 12. A summary of the meeting follows.

I. Participants

Japanese Side:

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso, Minister of Finance Koji Omi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota, and others.

Chinese Side:

Premier Wen Jiabao, Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing, Minister of State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, State Council Research Office Director Wei Liqun, and others.

II. Main Results

  • The Japanese prime minister and the Chinese premier declared the official establishment of the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue and agreed that the Dialogue would be composed of the following members.
    • Japanese Side: Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso shall be Japanese chairperson, and Minister of Finance Koji Omi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari, and Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota shall be core members.
    • Chinese Side: Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan shall be Chinese chairperson, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing, Minister of State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, and Minister of Finance Jin Renqing shall be core members.
    • Other ministers of both sides will participate in the Dialogue according to the meeting agenda.
  • Both sides agreed that the first meeting would be held in Beijing by the end of the year.
  • The agenda and other details of the first meeting will be discussed through diplomatic channels.

III. Main Points in Participant Statements

Opening Statements by the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier

1. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

This Dialogue marks a new step in Japan-China economic relations and will concretely develop in the area of the economy the "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" that Premier Wen and I agreed upon during my visit to China in October last year.

The economic policies of our two nations have a direct impact on the lives of the people of respective countries and its economic relationship exerts a major influence on the world economy.

Based on this perspective, Japan and China have a responsibility to promote bilateral economic relations smoothly and to contribute actively to the resolution of international issues, including resources and energy, development assistance aiming at the Millennium Development Goals, promotion of the WTO Doha Round, environment and climate change, protection of intellectual property rights, and measures to combat infectious diseases, etc.

Through this Dialogue, the economic leaders of our governments will engage in unreserved discussions, taking a cross-sectoral, long-term, and international approach, and thereby will promote a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" between our two nations to contribute to the sustainable development of the world economy in the 21st century.

2. Premier Wen Jiabao

Based on a productive agreement between our two nations, the establishment of this Dialogue signifies that the cooperative mechanism of the economy between our two countries has advanced to a higher level.

Our cooperation in the field of economy is a key component of the "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests". Economic cooperation between China and Japan has exceptional breadth and depth.

The relationship between our two countries is becoming more and more interdependent, and its impact on the regional and world economy is growing. The situation today demands that we make the mechanism for bilateral cooperation in the area of the economy stronger and richer from a more macroeconomic perspective. I am confident that this Dialogue will have a positive impact on the development of our bilateral relations.

Statements by Japanese Government Ministers

1. Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso

This Dialogue will address issues that are difficult to tackle through bilateral counterpart discussions, and it will provide a forum for the coordination and resolution of such issues from a broader perspective on a government-wide basis. I propose that the Dialogue shall discuss the following five main topics: (1) macroeconomic policy, (2) trade and investment relations (elimination of trade barriers, further reform by China in the fields of investment and services regulations, etc.), (3) multilateral cooperation (cooperation among Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea and in the East Asia region, WTO Doha Round, future state of Japan-China economic relations in the regional and world economies), (4) global issues (the environment, climate change, energy, marine pollution, infectious diseases, etc.), and (5) economic cooperation (Japanese economic cooperation to China, coordination of economic cooperation to third-countries by Japan and China).

2. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari

I propose this Dialogue will treat cross-ministry issues such as the following two issues: (1) cooperation to improve the trade and investment environment, including the protection of intellectual property, and (2) consultation on economic and industrial policies of respective countries, including investment overheating in the Chinese economy for example. Cooperation in the areas of energy and the environment will also be discussed.

3. Minister of Finance Koji Omi

I look forward to promoting regional financial cooperation in Asia, such as the Chiang Mai Initiative, in cooperation with China. In addition, I intend to also use the Japan-China Finance Dialogue to deepen discussion of bilateral economic issues and regional financial cooperation. I continue to anticipate Chinese efforts to increase the flexibility in the renminbi.

4. Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota

In addition to giving an overview of Japan's basic economic policies, I emphasize that ensuring the stable growth of the Japanese and Chinese economies, through the Economic Consultations between Japan's Cabinet Office and China's State Development and Reform Commission, is important not only for our two countries but also for the world economy.

Statements by Chinese Government Ministers

1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing

The leaders of our two countries have agreed to strengthen economic and trade relations and have created this Dialogue mechanism for that. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs looks forward to promoting the favorable development of our bilateral economic and trade relations by giving active coordination and support from the political standpoint to this Dialogue.

2. Minister of State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai

Using the platform of this Dialogue, we will further promote bilateral economic exchange and cooperation. In particular, I anticipate that priority areas will be the macroeconomy, industrial policy, energy, and cooperation with regard to small and medium enterprises. I welcome that the second Forum for energy conservation and environment will be held in September this year. I also attach importance to the China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair.

3. Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai

The Ministry of Commerce feels great responsibility as the coordination ministry of Chinese side for this Dialogue. By cooperating with Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan and facilitating this Dialogue, we intend to develop a win-win situation in our bilateral economic relationship.

Closing Statements by the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier

1. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

All participants of both sides have reaffirmed the importance of the Japan China economic relations and their responsibility to having their national economies be open to the world and contribute to the development of the international society. This is the basis for the promotion of a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests." I agree to hold the first meeting in Beijing by the end of the year.

2. Premier Wen Jiabao

Our meeting today has been brief, but very significant. I look forward to seeing a good first meeting and positive results achieved through the efforts of both sides.

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