China News Service, Beijing, December 14-Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe had a video call with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on the afternoon of the 14th.

　　Wei Fenghe first congratulated Nobuo Kishi on his appointment as the Minister of Defense of Japan.

He said that China and Japan are both important countries in the region and major economies in the world. They are geographically close, culturally interlinked, and share interests.

The leaders of the two countries have reached an important consensus on building a Sino-Japanese relationship that meets the requirements of the new era. The two sides should strengthen exchanges and cooperation to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

In recent years, China-Japan defense relations have continuously made new progress. It is necessary to maintain high-level exchanges, promote pragmatic cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, accelerate the establishment of maritime and air liaison mechanisms, and actively build constructive bilateral security relations.

　　Wei Fenghe said that with regard to the East China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands, China is determined to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The two sides should focus on the overall and long-term, strengthen consultations, properly handle differences, and truly make the East China Sea a sea of ​​peace, cooperation and friendship.

　　Wei Fenghe also clarified China's principled position on the international and regional situation, the South China Sea and the peninsula.

　　Nobuo Kishi said that Japan hopes to maintain stable development of relations with China.

It is very important for Japan and China to maintain defense exchanges during the epidemic. Japan is willing to continue to maintain communication with China on issues of mutual concern, strengthen defense exchanges and cooperation, promote the establishment of direct telephone communication mechanisms for sea and air communication, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

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