What’s new: China urged Japan to act prudently in the area of military security as the two countries’ top diplomats expressed concerns over disputed islands in the East China Sea during a phone call Thursday night.
China’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi that Beijing hopes Tokyo can stop provocations from “right-wing forces” over the Diaoyu Islands, according to a statement on the foreign ministry’s website. Japan calls the contested islands the Senkaku Islands.
During the 50-minute phone call, Qin also said China hopes Japan can be “cautious with its words and actions” on the Taiwan issue while Hayashi acknowledged the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to statements from the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministries.
What’s more: Qin said China is willing to deepen cooperation with Japan in areas including the digital economy and green development, as both sides stressed China-Japan economic interdependence.
Qin also expressed “serious concerns” about Japan’s decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, while Hayashi “strongly called” for China to lift import restrictions on Japanese food products.
The two sides agreed to build a “constructive and stable relationship” and maintain high-level communications, the statements added.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Bertrand Teo (bertrandteo@caixin.com)
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