Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) , also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing, China, December 25, 2024. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a six-point proposal on advancing China-Japan relations during talks with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing on Wednesday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on Japan to work with China to calibrate strategic understanding, maintain mutual trust, strengthen communication and dialogue, pursue win-win cooperation, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and properly handle conflicts and differences.
It is hoped that Japan will follow the trends of the times, view China's development objectively and with goodwill, and adopt a positive policy towards China, Wang said.
He said China and Japan, as close neighbors, share a relationship whose significance extends beyond bilateral ties.
"When China-Japan relations are stable, Asia becomes more stable; when Asia is stable, it plays a more significant role on the global stage," said Wang.
He expressed hope that Japan will work with China to learn from history, eliminate interference and build consensus to advance the sound and stable development of bilateral relations in the right direction.
Wang Yi holds talks with Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing, China, December 25, 2024. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
For his part, Iwaya expressed Japan's willingness to enhance mutual trust and coordinated cooperation with China. He highlighted the importance of expanding positive agendas, reducing unresolved issues and effectively managing differences in bilateral relations.
He affirmed Japan's commitment to the principles of Japan-China joint statements and expressed respect and understanding for China's stance on the Taiwan question.
Japan is ready to work with China to jointly promote regional peace and prosperity, he added.
During their talks, Wang also reiterated China's opposition to the discharge of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea by the Japanese side.
He stressed that Japan should fulfill its international obligations and the commitments made to China by establishing a long-term international monitoring mechanism and allowing independent sampling and testing of the water by China.
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