China supports G20 Osaka summit, possible Japan-DPRK dialogue

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Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said the China-Japan diplomatic relationship has returned to the normal track after going through ups and downs over the years and both sides should treasure the development and continue to enhance mutual trust.

China is willing to work with Japan to further promote bilateral ties by boosting mutual trust, economic cooperation, non-governmental exchanges and security cooperation, Kong said in an interview with Japanese media on May 10.

He said a bilateral relationship is like a vehicle that needs "four-wheel drive", which is to jointly increase political trust and manage differences, expand economic cooperation, increase youth and cultural exchanges as well as build a constructive security mechanism.

Kong said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, while Japan has also entered the new Reiwa era, and the two countries should expand common interests and jointly contribute to global governance.

Speaking of the upcoming G20 summit to be held in Japan's Osaka, Kong said China supports the G20 Osaka summit and hopes the summit would send a positive signal of promoting multilateralism and an inclusive world economy.

Responding to a question about the ongoing China-U.S. trade friction, Kong rejected the idea that China-Japan ties are driven closer because of China-U.S. trade war.

It is in the national interests of both countries to improve bilateral ties, and both sides are beneficiaries of the international free trade system and both have the responsibility to work together to maintain an open world economy and a free trade system, he said.

"Putting the relations between China, Japan and the U.S. as against each other is a zero-sum game and Cold War mentality. China does not agree with it," he said. "The friendly relationship among these two nations can be developed in parallel, which is welcomed by the international community."

The Chinese diplomat also voiced support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's intention to meet the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un.

During telephone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, Abe said he wishes to meet Kim without condition to resolve the long-standing issue of past abductions of Japanese nationals.

China "supports dialogue" between the leaders of Japan and the DPRK and the two sides should work on normalizing of ties, Kong said, calling on Japan to play a "constructive" role in resolving the issues related to the Korean Peninsula.

(Cover: Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou talks to Japanese media in Beijing, May 10, 2019. /Photo via China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)