In a significant move towards enhancing regional stability and cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with Japan to build a constructive and stable relationship. This declaration came during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru.
Xi emphasized that China and Japan, as close neighbors and key players in Asia, hold relationships of global importance beyond their bilateral interactions. He highlighted China's commitment to upholding the consensus that the two nations should \"be partners, not threats,\" aiming to foster a strategic relationship rooted in mutual benefit.
The Chinese leader underscored that China’s development presents opportunities not just for itself but also for neighboring countries like Japan. He expressed hope for Japan to collaborate with China in developing mutual understanding, steering the bilateral relationship in a strategic direction, and translating political agreements into concrete policies and actions.
Addressing sensitive topics, Xi urged Japan to confront historical issues and major matters like Taiwan with transparency and foresight. He advocated for managing differences constructively to maintain a strong political foundation for bilateral relations.
The discussions also focused on deepening cultural and local exchanges to enhance mutual understanding, especially among the younger generations of both nations. Economic integration was another key point, with both countries intending to adhere to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, safeguarding the global free trade system, and ensuring stable production and supply chains.
Furthermore, Xi called for strengthened coordination on international and regional affairs, practicing true multilateralism, promoting open regionalism, and jointly addressing global challenges.
Prime Minister Ishiba echoed these sentiments, stating that Japan and China should work together to advance a strategic relationship of mutual benefit and build constructive and stable bilateral ties. He reaffirmed Japan’s unchanged position on the Taiwan question as per the 1972 Japan-China joint communique and clarified that Japan has no intention of decoupling from China.
This renewed commitment from both leaders marks a critical period in China-Japan relations, with potential positive implications for regional and global dynamics.
Reference(s):
Xi: China ready to work with Japan to build constructive relationship
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