Japanese Ambassador to China Shinsuke Sugiyama said in an interview that he will make every effort to facilitate a meeting between the Japanese and Chinese leaders during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in China in November.
In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News on Wednesday (May 20), Sugiyama pointed out that to improve the current Japan-China relationship, “a summit meeting is extremely important.”
He stressed that he will “make the utmost effort” to facilitate a meeting between the Japanese and Chinese leaders during the APEC summit scheduled for November in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
Sugiyama said that he will make use of the visit to China by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryo Akazawa, to attend the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Jiangsu Province, and occasions such as the United Nations General Assembly in September, to accumulate ministerial and summit-level contacts.
Sugiyama said that he will make use of the visit to China by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ryo Akazawa, to attend the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Jiangsu Province, and occasions such as the United Nations General Assembly in September, to accumulate ministerial and summit-level contacts.
When talking about Japan-China relations, Sugiyama said that more than 10,000 Japanese companies are operating in over 30,000 business locations in China, and nearly 100,000 Japanese nationals are living in China. Multi-layered exchanges in the economic, cultural, and other fields between the two countries have continued for a long time. He said that deteriorating bilateral relations “would become a destabilizing factor in the region,” thus underscoring the importance of improving ties.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks regarding a "Taiwan contingency" during a parliamentary session in November last year plunged Japan-China relations to a new low.
At a regular press conference on May 7, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, in response to a Japanese media question, said that China has stated its stern position on multiple occasions. The current serious difficulties faced by China-Japan relations originate from Takaichi’s remarks regarding Taiwan, and the responsibility lies entirely with the Japanese side.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks regarding a "Taiwan contingency" during a parliamentary session in November last year plunged Japan-China relations to a new low.
At a regular press conference on May 7, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, in response to a Japanese media question, said that China has stated its stern position on multiple occasions. The current serious difficulties faced by China-Japan relations originate from Takaichi’s remarks regarding Taiwan, and the responsibility lies entirely with the Japanese side.
Lin Jian said: “If Japan genuinely wants to improve China-Japan relations, it should abide by the four political documents between China and Japan as well as its own commitments, retract the erroneous statements, and safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations with concrete actions. We urge the Japanese authorities to face the root of the problem, reflect and correct their mistakes, and create the necessary conditions for normal exchanges between China and Japan.”
Kyodo News reported that, with strong cabinet support, Takaichi has refused China’s request to retract her comments on Taiwan. Regarding Japan-China relations, Takaichi publicly stated on May 1: “Japan always remains open to dialogue and is willing to respond strategically.”
The report noted that Japan is paying close attention to the APEC Leaders' Meeting to be held in China in November, believing that as the host, Chinese President Xi Jinping may agree to hold a summit with Japan in order to ensure the success of the meeting.