Politics
11:12, 28-Jan-2018
Wang: China welcomes Japan's efforts to develop better bilateral ties
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday urged Japan to "put words into action" in improving bilateral ties between the two countries.
Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who is visiting Beijing.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the People's Republic of China and Japan, which is of great significance to bilateral ties, Wang said.
It is Kono's first visit to China as foreign minister; and the first by any Japanese foreign minister since 2016. And Kono has come with high hopes for better ties as the year 2018 is of special meaning for China and Japan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono before their meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, January 28, 2018. /Reuters Photo
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono before their meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, January 28, 2018. /Reuters Photo
Both sides agreed on Sunday to make the East China Sea a sea of friendship and cooperation and to have the Japan-China Maritime and Air Communication Mechanism in place as soon as possible. Japan also hopes to have reciprocal visits by top leaders this year to further cement the ties.
Taro Kono said at the meeting, “It's 40 years since we made that treaty on peace and friendship... My mission is to shape the relations today in that image."
Japan has also expressed a positive attitude towards getting involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
On Jan. 22, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed that his administration would like to promote relationships with China during his policy speech at the opening of this year's ordinary Diet session, to which China’s Foreign Ministry has responded favorably.
Noting the positive expressions Abe has made in regards to improving China-Japan relations as an important task in the next stage, Wang said he hopes that Japan could work together with China to bring back the bilateral ties to a normal and healthy development path.
(Sun Ye, An Kun also contributed to the story.)
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