China, Japan should enhance mutual trust, cooperation: Chinese FM

In the face of a complex international situation and global challenges, China and Japan should enhance mutual trust and cooperation to provide more stability and certainty to the world, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Noting that China and Japan have restarted the process of improving bilateral relations since Ishiba took office, Wang said that the Chinese leader and Ishiba had a successful meeting in Lima, Peru, and agreed to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between the two countries, which has offered direction and injected impetus into the development of China-Japan relations.

China and Japan, both with significant influence, should work together to build a better future for Asia, Wang added.

Stressing that as neighbors separated by a strip of water, treating each other with sincerity, maintaining good faith and pursuing harmony are the correct ways to relate as neighbors, Wang emphasized that the Japanese side should adhere to the principles outlined in the four political documents between the two countries, including the China-Japan Joint Statement. He urged Japan to safeguard the political and legal foundations for bilateral ties and earnestly fulfill its important political commitments on historical issues and the Taiwan question.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Wang noted. He expressed hope that at this critical juncture, Japan will make the right choice and send the right signal to the world with a responsible attitude toward history, the people and the future. 

Ishiba said that in November last year, he and the Chinese leader reached an important consensus on comprehensively promoting the strategic relationship of mutual benefit and building constructive and stable bilateral ties, which has led to new achievements in cooperation across various fields.

Japan fully recognizes the significance of the four political documents between Japan and China, respects the positions elaborated by China, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to push forward the development of bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Ishiba added.