Chinese Premier calls for staying clear of risks to advance China-Japan ties

Beijing, The Gulf Observer: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday called on Japan to stay clear of disruptive risks with China, continue to expand the positive side of bilateral relations and jointly advance the building of China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Beijing.

China and Japan are close neighbors and important countries in Asia, Li said, adding that maintaining and developing China-Japan friendly and cooperative relations not only serves the interests of the two countries and their peoples, but is also beneficial to maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Noting that 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Li called on both sides to review and abide by the principle of the treaty, eye the bigger picture and stay committed to developing a lasting, peaceful and friendly relationship between the two countries.

The premier expressed his hope that Japan can meet China halfway and take the 45th anniversary of the signing of the treaty as an opportunity to enhance dialogue and cooperation and properly manage differences.

Major issues of principle such as history and the Taiwan question are the bedrock of the political foundation of bilateral relations, Li pointed out, calling for sincere, cordial, and careful settlement.

Noting that China and Japan are important economic and trade partners, Li said the two sides should and can make the pie of economic and trade cooperation bigger.

Both sides should and can expand economic and trade cooperation, the premier said, adding that cooperation in fields such as digital economy, green development, finance, healthcare and elderly care services should be strengthened to achieve a higher level of mutual benefits and win-win results.

Li said he welcomes Japan to continue deepening cooperation with China, share China’s development benefits to write a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

It is hoped that both countries will jointly safeguard free trade, practice true multilateralism and actively promote the process of regional integration, he said.

The premier also called for maintaining the stability and smoothness of the global industrial and supply chains, jointly decreasing uncertainty to make contributions to regional and global development.

Hayashi, for his part, said China and Japan have tremendous cooperation potential in a variety of fields, adding that Japan is committed to promoting cooperation with China.

Taking the 45th anniversary of the signing of the treaty as an opportunity, Japan is willing to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges, carry out dialogue and communication to build constructive and stable Japan-China relations, he added.