Li, Ishiba reaffirm comprehensively advancing China-Japan ties

Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed on Thursday comprehensively advancing the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan.

During their meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on the sidelines of the leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation, the first one since Ishiba became the Japanese prime minister at the end of last month, the two agreed that both countries strive to jointly build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the demands of the new era.

Li emphasized that the development of China and Japan is an important opportunity for each other, not a challenge.

He urged Japan to stay committed to the principles and consensus stipulated in the four political documents between the two countries, and work together with China to set the right course for the development of bilateral ties and uphold the political foundation of the countries' relations.

China is ready to work with Japan to further leverage their respective comparative advantages, explore more new growth drivers of cooperation, and jointly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains and the global free trade system, Li said.

He underlined the need for both sides to increase support for exchanges in sub-national, cultural, sports, youth and other fields to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

China is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation with Japan to jointly promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity, Li said.

Ishiba said that Japan is willing to work with China to look to the future and promote steady development of bilateral ties.

Japan has no intention to decouple from or cut supply chains with China and wants to deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, he said.

Ishiba assured the Chinese premier that Japan adheres to its position on the Taiwan question as stated in the Japan-China Joint Statement signed in 1972, which remains unchanged.