Xi, Kishida reaffirm strategic, mutually beneficial China-Japan ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in San Francisco, the United States, Nov. 16, 2023. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday reaffirmed the positioning of comprehensively advancing the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan.

During their meeting here in the afternoon, the two leaders reiterated their commitment to the principles and consensus stipulated in the four political documents between the two countries, and agreed to dedicate themselves to jointly building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the demands of the new era.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which established the general direction of China-Japan peace, friendship, and cooperation in legal form and became a milestone in the history of bilateral relations, Xi said as he met Kishida on the sidelines of the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting.

Over the past 45 years, under the guidance of the four political documents between China and Japan, including the Treaty, bilateral relations have maintained a momentum of development through thick and thin, bringing benefits to the two peoples and playing a positive role in regional peace, development and prosperity, said the Chinese president.

The current international landscapes are turbulent, with risks and challenges emerging in an endless stream, Xi noted, stressing that peaceful coexistence, lasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common development between China and Japan serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

At present, the China-Japan relationship is at a critical juncture, Xi said. The two sides should, in the spirit of learning from history to create a bright future, follow the trend of the times and keep to the right direction, stay true to the original aspiration when normalizing diplomatic relations in 1972.

The two sides should view each other's development with objectivity and rationality, foster positive and friendly mutual cognition, manage differences in a constructive manner, and translate the political consensus that the two countries are cooperative partners, not a threat to each other into specific policies and concrete actions, Xi said.

Xi stressed that major issues of principle related to history and Taiwan bear on the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and he urged Japan to honor its pledges and make sure that the foundation of bilateral relations will not be damaged or shaken.

The economic interests of China and Japan, as well as their industrial and supply chains, are deeply intertwined, and it is in no one's interest to engage in "small yard, high fence" practices and "decoupling and supply-chain disruption," Xi said.

China is promoting high-quality development and high-level opening-up, which will bring unprecedented opportunities to countries around the world, including Japan, Xi said, urging both sides to deepen cooperation, help each other succeed, earnestly safeguard the global free trade system, and achieve a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win results.

The two countries should take a higher perspective and adopt a broader vision, promote the Asian values of peace, cooperation, inclusiveness, and integration, practice genuine multilateralism, promote open regionalism, advance regional integration, and jointly address global challenges, said the Chinese president.

Xi also urged the Japanese side to take seriously the legitimate concerns at home and abroad over the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima power plant and properly handle the issue in a responsible and constructive manner, as it concerns the health of all humankind, the global marine environment, and the international public interest.

For his part, Kishida said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and the two peoples recall the efforts by the older generations of leaders of the two countries to promote Japan-China friendly relations in a wide range of fields.

With the international community at a historic turning point, Japan, being mindful of the future, hopes to strengthen high-level communication and dialogue with China, increase positive factors in bilateral relations and adhere to peaceful coexistence, he said, adding Japan has no intention to decouple with China, and hopes to continue to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and deepen practical cooperation in digital economy, green development, finance, medical care and old-age care.

He said the Japanese side will remain committed to the path of peaceful development and there is no change in its position on handling issues related to Taiwan, as stated in the Japan-China Joint Statement.

The two sides spoke highly of the newly established dialogue mechanism on export controls, agreed to maintain dialogue and communication at various levels, and hold at an appropriate time a new round of China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue as well as a meeting of high-level consultation mechanism on people-to-people exchanges.

They will maintain communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, and jointly cope with global challenges such as climate change.

They also agreed to find a proper way to resolve the issue of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima power plant through consultations and negotiations in a constructive manner.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in San Francisco, the United States, Nov. 16, 2023. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]