What’s New: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Wednesday in Tokyo in the first high-level meeting between the two countries since Suga took office in September.
During the meeting, Suga called for stable bilateral ties.
“A stable relationship between the two countries is important not only for Japan and China but also for the region and the international community,” Suga said.
Wang delivered a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying the Chinese leader wants to build "good working relations" with his Japanese counterpart.
Suga and Wang also agreed to cooperate on the Tokyo Olympic Games next year and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
What’s the context: Wang’s two-day visit to Japan marks China’s first high-level contact with Japan’s new administration as Beijing recalibrates its ties with key American allies ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next year.
On Tuesday, Wang and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi met and agreed to cooperate on trade and fighting the coronavirus. The two officials also announced a plan to lift some virus-related travel restrictions between the two countries.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday that the arrangement will be launched on Nov. 30.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com).
