The ruling parties of China and Japan on Tuesday agreed to maintain close dialogue and communication no matter what situation China-Japan relations face.
The consensus was reached between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party when representatives of the two sides attended the ninth meeting of the China-Japan ruling parties exchange mechanism in Beijing.
The ruling parties of the two countries recognized that since their inaugural meeting in 2006, the exchange mechanism has played a significant role in guiding the development of China-Japan relations. They welcomed the resumption of the inter-party talks following a break of six years and three months.
Focusing on the mission and responsibilities of ruling parties, both sides engaged in candid discussions on the important responsibilities and roles that the two countries should assume to maintain international order based on international law amid global upheavals.
The ruling parties held in-depth discussions on enhancing mutual trust, expanding cultural exchange and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
They agreed to adhere to the principles established in the four China-Japan political documents, following the direction of their leaders.
They pledged joint efforts to comprehensively advance the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan, aiming to build a constructive and stable relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
To that end, the ruling parties of both countries agreed to continue strengthening dialogue.
They agreed that regardless of the situation facing China-Japan relations, they will maintain close dialogue and communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and strengthen exchange between political parties, seasoned politicians and young politicians, laying a solid political foundation for the improvement and development of bilateral relations.
The ruling parties exchanged views on issues including the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean, and Japanese seafood product imports.
They agreed to promote the implementation of the consensus reached by the two governments, accelerate communication and consultation, and address one another’s concerns in a proper manner.
Both sides confirmed that they will continue to promote practical cooperation between the two countries through exchanges between ruling parties, and agreed in principle to hold the 10th meeting under the exchange mechanism in Japan this autumn.
Delivering on common understandings
China’s top political advisor Wang Huning on Tuesday met with the Japanese delegation, led by Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama of the Liberal Democratic Party and Secretary General Makoto Nishida of the Komeito Party, calling on the two sides to deliver on the common understandings between the two countries’ leaders.
Wang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the ruling parties of the two countries should carry out in-depth exchanges, deliver on the common understandings between the two countries’ leaders, make joint efforts to develop bilateral relations, and promote the prosperity and development of the region and the world.
“The CPPCC National Committee is ready to make positive contributions to this end,” said Wang.
Representatives of the Japanese delegation said that Japan and China are important neighbors of each other. They said Japan is willing to promote people-to-people exchanges at all levels, including among young parliamentarians and local leaders, in accordance with the important consensus between the two countries’ leaders and in the spirit of seeking common ground while reserving differences, in order to reduce differences and promote cooperation.
Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, also met with the Japanese delegation on Tuesday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that at present, China-Japan relations face important opportunities for improvement and development.
It is hoped that the two sides will make good use of the platform of the exchange mechanism between the ruling parties and play a positive role in the development of China-Japan relations, Wang said.
The Japanese side expressed their willingness to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen dialogue between the ruling parties, and push for concrete results in practical cooperation in various fields.
(With input from Xinhua)
