Sensitive issues must be handled properly
Print Edition
FROSTY relations between China and Japan showed signs of a thaw yesterday as the two sides agreed to gradually resume political, diplomatic and security dialogue while acknowledging differences over the Diaoyu Islands, an issue that has chilled ties for two years.
The agreement was reached when State Councilor Yang Jiechi met Shotaro Yachi, Japan’s national security adviser, in Beijing ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Beijing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
With the landmark agreement, there is an increasing expectation of a one-on-one meeting between President Xi Jinping and Abe on the sidelines of the APEC summit next week.
However, the Chinese foreign ministry has yet to say whether Xi will have talks with Abe and, if he does, what kind of talks they will be.
The two sides acknowledged that “different positions” exist between them regarding the tensions which have emerged in recent years over the Diaoyu Islands and some waters in the East China Sea, the ministry said in a press release.
They agreed to prevent the situation from aggravating through dialogue and consultation and establish crisis management mechanisms to avoid contingencies, the ministry said.
The two sides have agreed to “gradually resume political, diplomatic and security dialogue” through various multilateral and bilateral channels and to make efforts to build political mutual trust.
The two countries stressed that they will follow the principles of the four political documents that aimed to develop the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit. The four documents include the China-Japan Joint Statement inked in 1972, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1978, the China-Japan Joint Declaration of 1998 and a joint statement on advancing strategic and mutually-beneficial relations in a comprehensive way that was signed in 2008.
The two countries have agreed on overcoming “political obstacles” in the bilateral relations, the ministry said.
The two sides need to uphold the political foundation for China-Japan relations strictly according to the spirit of the four-point agreement, Yang said at the meeting.
They need to ensure the right direction, properly and timely handle sensitive issues, take concrete action to build political mutual trust and gradually put bilateral ties on a track of sound development, he added.
A long-term, healthy and stable growth of China-Japan relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their people, and it is China’s consistent position to grow China-Japan relations on the basis of the four political documents in the spirit of “taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future,” Yang said.
The Chinese side has reiterated its position, urging the Japanese side to face up to and properly handle such issues of great sensitivity as history and the Diaoyu Islands and work with the Chinese side for the improvement and growth of the bilateral relations, Yang said.
Yachi said Japan attaches great importance to the strategic relationship of mutual benefit with China.
Japan stands ready to proceed from the overall interests, conduct dialogue and consultation with China to enhance common understanding and mutual trust, and properly handle disagreement and sensitive issues, the press release quoted Yachi as saying.
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