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Li Qiang Meets with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi

2023-04-02 23:00

On the afternoon of April 2, 2023, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi at Ziguangge of Zhongnanhai during his visit to China.

Li Qiang said that China and Japan are and will remain close neighbors, and both are important countries in Asia. Maintaining and developing friendly and cooperative relations between China and Japan not only serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, but also contributes to maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Li Qiang said that both sides should review and abide by the spirit of the Treaty, bear in mind the big picture and long-term interests, and firmly commit themselves to enduring peace and friendship between the two countries. Li Qiang expressed the hope that Japan will work with China in the same direction, and take the opportunity of commemorating the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences, steer clear of risks and disruptions, continuously expand positive aspects of bilateral relations, and jointly build a China-Japan relationship that meets the demand of the new era.

Li Qiang pointed out that major issues of principle such as those related to history and Taiwan bear on the political foundation of bilateral relations, and therefore should be handled properly with sincerity and trust. As important economic and trade partners, China and Japan have reinforced each other and contributed to each other's success in achieving their respective development, with deeply entwined interests. The two sides should and can make the pie of economic and trade cooperation bigger, and strengthen cooperation in such areas as digital economy, green development, fiscal and financial sectors, health care and old-age care, to achieve a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Japan is welcome to continue deepening cooperation with China to share the dividends of China's economic development and write a new chapter in mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Japan. Asia is the common home for China and Japan to survive and thrive. Li Qiang expressed the hope that the two countries will work together to safeguard free trade, practice true multilateralism, actively promote regional integration, keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded, jointly work for less uncertainty and greater stability, and make due contributions to regional and world development.

Noting that last year marked the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China and this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Yoshimasa Hayashi said the bilateral relationship is at a critical juncture. Highlighting the huge potential for cooperation between Japan and China in a wide range of areas, Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan is committed to promoting cooperation with China and will not adopt the approach of decoupling with China. Japan is ready to make joint efforts with China to take the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty as an opportunity to follow through on the common understandings reached between leaders of the two countries, maintain high-level interactions, continuously conduct dialogue and communication, and build a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship.

Qin Gang was present at the meeting.

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