Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could meet with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan on Wednesday while Wang is in Japan to attend the Emperor's enthronement ceremony.
Abe wants to confirm the stable development of Japan-China relations and to build momentum ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit next spring, sources said.
Abe emphasized the significance of improving Japan's relationship with China at a Wednesday session of the House of Councilors Budget Committee.
"It is extremely important to create an environment where leaders can be frank with each other. I want to sustain the momentum," he said.
Abe made an official visit to China in October last year, the first Japanese prime minister to do so in seven years. In June, Xi came to Japan for the first time since becoming president. During the visit, Abe and Xi confirmed that "Japan-China relations have returned to a normal track."
"Having Wang visit Japan is one of the most important events, following Xi's visit, that can occur between Japan and China," a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
Wang is a powerful member of the Xi administration who holds considerable influence, and Abe may meet longer with him than with officials from other countries. They are expected to confirm that the lively exchange of important visits between the two countries will continue, among other things.
However, some in the government and ruling parties have stressed the importance of creating an avenue for lodging protests with China.
Chinese government ships have been particularly active this year around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. A total of 70 vessels were recorded all of last year, while more than 100 have been logged so far this year. There are no signs China will stop trying to change the status quo through force.
Regarding the extended anti-government protests in Hong Kong, Abe brought up the issue in a meeting with Xi in June, but it was not mentioned when the Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers met in September.
Some say Japan has become "timid about provoking China," according to a mid-ranking member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
The senior Foreign Ministry official said that "a true friendship is a relationship where things that need to be said can be stated frankly," which suggests that Abe may demand appropriate responses from China during his meeting with Wang.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
