Chinese and Japanese leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strategic relations during rare talks on Wednesday, seeking to ease tensions and promote cooperation in a region overshadowed by China’s growing military and economic clout.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok,
Thailand, in their first in-person talks since Kishida took office in October 2021.
The two leaders agreed to work together to address common challenges such as climate change and economic development, and to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
However, they also acknowledged the deep-seated tensions between their countries, which stem from historical grievances, territorial disputes, and China’s assertive foreign policy in the region.
Kishida reiterated Japan’s concerns about China’s military activities in the East and South China Seas, and called on Beijing to act in a “responsible and transparent” manner.
Xi, in turn, urged Japan to “abandon its Cold War mentality” and to work with China to build a “new era” of relations.
Despite the challenges, the two leaders agreed to maintain regular dialogue and to promote high-level exchanges.
The talks were seen as a positive step in the normalization of relations between China and Japan, which have been strained in recent years.
However, it remains to be seen whether the two countries can overcome their deep-rooted differences and build a more stable and constructive partnership.
In a statement released after the meeting, the Japanese government said that the two leaders had agreed to “work together to address common challenges such as climate change and economic development, and to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges.”
The statement also said that the two leaders had “agreed to continue high-level dialogue and to promote exchanges in various fields.”
The Chinese government released a similar statement, saying that the two leaders had agreed to “build a new era of China-Japan strategic partnership.”
The statement also said that the two leaders had agreed to “continue to maintain high-level exchanges and to promote cooperation in various fields.”
The talks between Kishida and Xi were a significant development in bilateral relations between China and Japan. However, it remains to be seen whether the two countries can overcome their deep-rooted differences and build a more stable and constructive partnership.