Japan, China Foreign Chiefs Vow Closer Communication
Beijing, Dec. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, agreed at a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday to strengthen communication between the two sides.
In their three-hour meeting, the two foreign ministers agreed that Wang will visit Japan as soon as possible next year to hold a high-level economic dialogue.
Meanwhile, Iwaya mentioned a newly spotted buoy believed to have been placed by the Chinese side within Japan's exclusive economic zone south of Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, and demanded that it be removed immediately.
Iwaya was the first Japanese foreign minister to visit China in 20 months. The Beijing meeting was the first in-person meeting between Iwaya and Wang.
At the start of the meeting, Iwaya said, "I hope (the meeting) will be the first step to strengthen cooperation and collaboration while reducing challenges and pending issues."
Wang voiced hope that bilateral ties will develop in a healthy and stable way.
Iwaya asked China to resume imports of Japanese fishery products as soon as possible. He and Wang confirmed that their countries will steadily implement a September agreement on the issue.
They also decided to swiftly resume talks to restart China's imports of Japanese beef and expand its imports of Japanese polished rice.
On the situation in the East China Sea, including waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa, Iwaya expressed concern over the Chinese military's increasing activities. He stressed that the placement of the new buoy was unacceptable.
They agreed to hold a security dialogue meeting as early as possible next year.
Following recent incidents involving Japanese nationals in the Chinese cities of Suzhou and Shenzhen, the top Japanese diplomat reiterated a request to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens in China.
The Japanese minister also called for the early release of Japanese nationals detained in China for alleged spying.
Expressing concern over North Korea, which is deepening military cooperation with Russia, Iwaya urged China to play an important role in the situation.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Iwaya said, "We had in-depth and candid discussions on a wide range of topics."
Earlier in the day, Iwaya met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.
On the same day, Iwaya also attended a high-level dialogue on personnel and cultural exchanges with the Chinese side, and announced that Japan will ease its visa rules for Chinese visitors.
Japan will extend the maximum stay allowed under a visa for group tourists from China to 30 days from the current 15 days, while the validity period for multiple entry visas for wealthy Chinese tourists will be extended to 10 years from the current 5 years.
These measures are expected to be implemented in stages from next spring.
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