MOFA: Japan's positive attitude on Belt and Road good for bilateral ties

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The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Japan's positive attitude recently shown toward China's Belt and Road Initiative will not only benefit the two countries, but also the China-Japan relationship.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed Japan's positive attitude on participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and exploring cooperation in a third country, during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said several weeks earlier that Japan will "properly respond to" individual cooperation programs related to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks at a regular briefing in Beijing, January 29, 2018. /MOFA Photo

The Belt and Road Initiative is proposed with hopes to work together with other countries to achieve common development and prosperity through strengthening infrastructure interconnection and mutual development strategy, noted Hua.

If Japan takes a more open and proactive attitude in participating in the project, it will undoubtedly have positive significance for the respective development of China and Japan and Sino-Japanese relations, she said.

Since disturbances and obstructions remain in bilateral relations, Hua hoped that Japan could work with China to bring relations back onto the track of sound and normal development.

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