Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, meeting for the first time on Thursday in Laos, confirmed the two countries’ policy of promoting mutually beneficial ties, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said, aiming to stabilize bilateral relations amid continuing tensions.
Ishiba, who took office on Oct. 1, expressed serious concern over China’s breach of Japanese airspace in August and called for “sufficient explanation” from the neighboring country. He also urged Beijing to clarify facts about the fatal stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen last month.
The two agreed to instruct working-level officials to strive to achieve concrete results in improving bilateral relations, the ministry added.
In his opening remarks, Li said China “appreciates” Ishiba’s policy of continuing to promote a “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests” as well as bilateral exchanges and communication at all levels.
“We must work harder to maintain the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, which is of great significance to our two countries, the region and even the world,” Li said. The two met in Vientiane on the sidelines of a series of summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (far L) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang (far R) meet in Vientiane, Laos, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)
On Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory, Ishiba said he has been closely monitoring the cross-strait situation and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said.
China has increased military pressure on Taiwan since the May inauguration of the island’s President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist, by holding large-scale drills surrounding the territory.
The two Asian powers have been at loggerheads over issues including repeated intrusions by Chinese vessels into Japanese waters around the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
The killing of the schoolboy in the southern Chinese city last month sparked concern among Japanese people living in the country.
Ishiba strongly urged Beijing to swiftly take measures to ensure the safety of Japanese expats and tighten control over hateful social media posts in China targeting Japanese citizens. Beijing has not responded to Tokyo’s repeated requests to clarify the suspect’s motive and other background information regarding the case.
The new leader also sought an early release of Japanese nationals detained in China over espionage allegations.
Meanwhile, China agreed last month to gradually lift its ban on seafood imports from Japan, imposed after treated radioactive water began to be released into the sea from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant in August last year.
Ishiba called for the early resumption of Japanese marine product shipments to China in his talks with Li, according to the ministry.
On the economic front, Li said China is willing to work with Japan to explore cooperation in such fields as technological innovation, digital economy and green development and jointly maintain the stability of the industrial supply chain and the global free trade system, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
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