Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, emphasized the need to restore the deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations during a meeting with former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeši Iwaya. However, he continued to press the Japanese government to retract comments made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
According to Yonhap News on September 29, Wang met with Iwaya, who was leading a delegation from the Japan External Trade Organization, in Beijing the previous day.
Wang noted that next year marks the 55th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, diagnosing the current state of bilateral relations as challenging. He urged Japan to correct its leadership's statements on Taiwan and to reassess its historical perspectives and views on China.
He also referenced the 80th anniversary of the Far East International Military Tribunal this year, reiterating the Chinese government's position that Japan should learn from its past and maintain a post-war peace framework.
Iwaya expressed concern over the current state of Sino-Japanese relations. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, he stated that there is a need to return to the spirit of the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and work towards improving relations. He emphasized that Japan's political sphere should not forget the lessons of history.
Iwaya visited China as the president of the Japan External Trade Organization, accompanied by about 50 representatives from Japanese businesses. This organization has long facilitated economic and civil exchanges with China, and Iwaya succeeded the late Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who passed away in June.
China's official announcement of the meeting with Iwaya drew attention. Japanese media noted that this is the first instance of China publicly disclosing a meeting with a Japanese politician since Takaichi's comments on Taiwan last year. Iwaya is recognized within the Liberal Democratic Party as a proponent of improving relations with China.
On the same day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that Japan should adhere to the principles agreed upon regarding Taiwan, coinciding with the 54th anniversary of the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement. Amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, China appears to be maintaining dialogue channels at both political and civil levels, separate from its criticisms of the Japanese government.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.