Amid tense Sino-Japanese relations, Japan’s Kyodo News quoted multiple sources saying that the Japan-China Economic Association (abbreviated as Japan Trade Promotion) is coordinating the organization of a delegation to visit China in September.
According to reports, Japan Trade Promotion initially planned to visit in June, but the trip was postponed due to the death of Yohei Kono, former Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives and Chairman of the association.
Relevant sources revealed that after internal procedures at Japan Trade Promotion, former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will succeed as Chairman, expected as early as this month. Coordination is underway for a delegation led by Takeshi Iwaya to visit China from September 20 to 23.
As a window for trade and economic exchange with China, Japan Trade Promotion sends delegations to China each year to meet with Chinese leadership. The last visit was in June last year, when a delegation held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. This year, the original plan was for Yohei Kono to lead a delegation to visit China from June 21 to 24, but the trip was postponed due to his passing on June 8.
As a window for trade and economic exchange with China, Japan Trade Promotion sends delegations to China each year to meet with Chinese leadership. The last visit was in June last year, when a delegation held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. This year, the original plan was for Yohei Kono to lead a delegation to visit China from June 21 to 24, but the trip was postponed due to his passing on June 8.
Subsequently, acting Chairman Gaku Hashimoto visited China and held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying on June 22.
On June 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference that on June 22, Hua Chunying met with Gaku Hashimoto and his delegation, expressed condolences over Yohei Kono's passing, and reiterated China’s consistent position on Sino-Japanese relations and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on Taiwan, hoping Japan’s business community will play a positive role in promoting Japan’s correct view of history and improving bilateral relations.
On June 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference that on June 22, Hua Chunying met with Gaku Hashimoto and his delegation, expressed condolences over Yohei Kono's passing, and reiterated China’s consistent position on Sino-Japanese relations and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on Taiwan, hoping Japan’s business community will play a positive role in promoting Japan’s correct view of history and improving bilateral relations.
Since Sanae Takaichi made the "Taiwan contingency theory" statement in November last year, Sino-Japanese relations have rapidly deteriorated. China has responded in trade, military, and cultural exchanges, with ongoing escalations between the two sides and continued tensions.
After Japan and the Philippines began delimitation talks at the end of May over waters east of Taiwan and south of Japan's Yonaguni Island, China announced law enforcement actions in this maritime area, further heightening confrontations between China and Japan.