Top Japanese diplomat meets Chinese premier, counterpart

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Wednesday met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing as the maritime neighbors move to improve bilateral ties.

Since being appointed early this year, Iwaya is on his maiden trip to Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

After meeting Li, Iwaya and Wang began the Japan-China high-level people-to-people and cultural exchange dialogue, second since the mechanism was launched in 2019.

The high-level exchanges come after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met last month in Peru, where they agreed to promote "mutually beneficial" and "stable" relations.

After seeing bilateral relations spiral down, Japan and China have in recent months taken mutual steps to improve ties.

Tensions have lingered over Japan’s close ties with the US and its release of treated nuclear water.

Tokyo also raised concerns with Beijing over attacks on Japanese citizens in China. At least two such incidents have been reported, though China denies the attacks were racial in nature.

The two sides now aim to increase people-to-people contacts, mutual high-level visits and also maintain communication.

Following release of treated nuclear waste from crippled Fukushima nuclear plant last year, China had imposed complete ban on imports of seafood from Japan. It has now said it will review the decision.

Beijing has also detained a Japanese citizen over alleged espionage, while Tokyo raised concerns over passage of Chinese vessels in waters around Japan-controlled disputed islands in the East China Sea.