On April 2, 2023, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi in Beijing.

Qin Gang said that in a world fraught with changes and turbulence, China-Japan relations face opportunities and challenges. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, and President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held the first meeting in Bangkok, charting the course for bilateral relations. Qin Gang said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the two sides should follow the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, review the spirit of the treaty, strengthen exchanges and communication, and push forward bilateral relations through removing disturbance and overcoming difficulties.

Qin Gang said that a profound lesson from bilateral relations over the past half-century is that peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation are the only correct choices for both sides. Asia is the region with the greatest vitality and potential for development in today's world, and it is a prevailing aspiration of all countries to safeguard regional peace and promote common development. Faced with disputes and differences, forming exclusive blocs and shouting out one-sided demands to exert pressure will not solve any problem, but only widen the barrier between each other. Noting that the four political documents between China and Japan have laid a political and legal foundation for bilateral relations, Qin said that keeping promises and drawing lessons from history is an important prerequisite for the steady and long-term growth of China-Japan relations. He hopes that Japan will have a correct understanding of China, show political wisdom and courage, work with China to enhance dialogue and communication, promote practical cooperation, increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and properly manage differences, to remove obstacles and ease burdens for bilateral relations and build a China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.

Qin Gang noted that the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean is a major issue bearing on the health and security of humanity, and Japan should handle the disposal responsibly. The US once brutally contained Japan's semi-conductor industry by resorting to bullying practices. Today the US has repeated its tricks on China. As the saying goes, do not do unto others what you don't want done unto you. As the keenly-felt pain still stings, Japan should not help a villain do evil. The blockade will only further stimulate China's determination for independence and self-development. Japan is a G7 member, and more importantly, a member of Asia. Japan should guide the tone and course of meetings in a correct manner, do more things conducive to regional peace and stability, and pool real consensus of the international community.

Qin Gang emphasized that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, which bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations. China urges Japan to abide by the principles enshrined in the four political documents between the two countries and its commitments so far, and refrain from interfering in the Taiwan question or undermining China's sovereignty in any form.

Yoshimasa Hayashi said that Japan-China relations enjoy great potential for development. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and Japan is ready to work with China to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, abide by the four political documents between Japan and China, strengthen exchanges at all levels and practical cooperation, properly handle issues of respective concern, promote the building of the constructive and stable Japan-China relations, and jointly make positive contributions to regional and global prosperity and stability as responsible countries.

In the case of a Japanese citizen suspected of engaging in espionage activities in China, Qin Gang stressed that China would handle it in accordance with the law.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the reform of the United Nations Security Council.