Wang Yi spoke on the phone with Takeo Akiba, the Japanese leader of the China-Japan high-level political dialogue

On October 21, in a significant development, Wang Yi, a member of the Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, held a phone call with Takeo Akiba, Japan’s National Security Advisor and the leader of the Japanese side in high-level political dialogue.

Wang underscored that since the establishment of Shinzo Abe’s government, there has been a clear commitment to advancing a mutually beneficial strategic relationship between China and Japan. He emphasized that there is no intention for Japan to “decouple” from China. Wang also reiterated the importance of adhering to the bilateral consensus regarding the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima, expressing a willingness to engage in high-level exchanges and dialogue across various fields to ensure a smooth start for China-Japan relations.

Wang highlighted the continuity and stability of China’s policy toward Japan. He expressed the desire to follow the principles established in the four political documents between China and Japan to foster healthy and stable development in their relationship. He called on Japan to respect China’s core interests, uphold the One China commitment, and work alongside China as cooperative partners, emphasizing that both countries should support each other’s peaceful development to strengthen the political foundation for bilateral relations and infuse new vitality into cooperation across various sectors. Wang expressed hope that Japan’s new cabinet would bring a fresh perspective, marking a new chapter in China-Japan relations.

In response, Takeo Akiba reaffirmed Japan’s dedication to advancing a comprehensive and strategic mutually beneficial relationship with China, aiming to build constructive and stable ties. He expressed readiness to engage with China to maintain the current momentum of bilateral relations and facilitate more strategic dialogue, sending positive signals externally.

Both sides agreed to continue utilizing the high-level political dialogue mechanism to ensure regular communication moving forward.