Xi Yandao丨They shook hands with a smile: the details and essence behind the talks between the leaders of China and Japan

　　Chinanews.com, Beijing, November 19th.

　　Reporter Meng Xiangjun

　　After nearly three years, the leaders of China and Japan met face to face for the first time.

On the afternoon of November 17 local time, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Bangkok.

　　It coincides with the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The meeting between the leaders of the two countries is naturally of special significance.

What are the highlights of the talks?

What are the connotations of the five-point consensus reached by the teams of the two parties?

How will this meeting affect the development of Sino-Japanese relations?

Positive atmosphere with bright spots

　　For this meeting, from the key points of the topics discussed by the Chinese and Japanese teams to the background introduction of the relationship between the two countries, the media of the two countries reported in detail.

Japan's Kyodo News, NHK, and Japan's TV Asahi all noted that the two leaders were smiling when they shook hands before the talks began.

On the afternoon of November 17 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Haitao Source: Xinhua News Agency

　　After the meeting, Kishida described the meeting as a "frank and in-depth discussion", and told the media that he "feeled once again how important face-to-face conversation is in diplomacy" and "realized the importance of moving Japan-China relations forward". positive atmosphere".

　　Chen Yang, a visiting researcher at the Center for Japanese Studies of Liaoning University, told a reporter from Chinanews.com that the two leaders smiled when they shook hands, which helped to create a relaxed atmosphere for the talks.

　　Judging from the content of the press release issued by the Chinese side, the content of the meeting between the leaders of China and Japan is more sufficient and detailed than expected.

Chen Yang pointed out that under the current situation of China-Japan relations, the five-point consensus reached by the two countries on stabilizing and developing bilateral relations is an important highlight and can be said to be very rare.

　　Looking back on the past three years, Chen Yang believes that one of the reasons why China-Japan relations have not progressed smoothly is that the two countries have limited opportunities for communication, which has increased mutual misunderstanding and misjudgment.

This time, both China and Japan agreed to strengthen dialogue and communication at all levels and in various fields, which will help enhance political mutual trust and avoid unnecessary conflicts and frictions.

Five-Point Consensus, Three Concerns

　　After this consultation, the Chinese and Japanese teams reached a five-point consensus on stabilizing and developing bilateral relations.

Sorting out the five-point consensus, Chen Yang pointed out three points of concern:

　　Concern one, the expression of the importance of Sino-Japanese relations was included in the five-point consensus this time. During the meeting, Chairman Xi also mentioned that "the importance of Sino-Japanese relations has not changed and will not change."

Such a statement is a positive signal to the international community that China always attaches importance to its neighborhood diplomacy.

On June 8, 2022, the Beijing Millennium Monument held "Eternal Neighbors-Photography Exhibition Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Normalization of Sino-Japanese Diplomatic Relations".

Photo by China News Agency reporter Mao Jianjun

　　Concern 2. In recent years, one of the main reasons for the various differences or frictions between China and Japan is that Japan has not actively implemented the political consensus of "being cooperative partners and not posing threats to each other" together with China, which has led to Sino-Japanese relations have never been able to form a virtuous circle.

　　This time, the content of "mutually being partners and not posing threats to each other" was included in the consensus, which shows that Japan has also realized that it has fallen into the wrong path on the issue of China in the past, and is willing to work with China to promote the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations.

　　The third point of concern is that the China-Japan direct telephone line for sea and air liaison, which was often mentioned in the past talks between Chinese and Japanese leaders and communications between defense agencies, has been slow to open.

This time, the leaders of the two countries clearly wrote this content in the consensus, which is undoubtedly a positive signal, but when it will be opened in the end, it needs further observation.

　　If this move is implemented, it will help China and Japan to communicate quickly and directly on urgent defense affairs in some areas, understand each other's understanding, avoid misjudgment and misunderstanding, and avoid misfires.

Development and prosperity, mutual achievement

　　As the world's second and third largest economies and close neighbors that cannot be moved away, the economies of China and Japan are highly interdependent. Economic and trade cooperation has always been the "ballast stone" of China-Japan relations.

　　Chen Yang pointed out that in this meeting, Kishida mentioned that "Japan's development and prosperity cannot be separated from China, and vice versa."

Before the China-Japan leaders' meeting, the heads of state of China and the United States also held a meeting and achieved relatively positive results. It is expected that the attitude of the Japanese government will be more positive than before in the field of economic and trade cooperation.

Data map: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

　　The two teams agreed to focus on practical cooperation this time.

As mentioned in the five-point consensus, a new round of high-level economic dialogue between China and Japan should be held as soon as possible, and cooperation in energy conservation and environmental protection, green development, medical care, elderly care and other fields should be strengthened.

These initiatives will not only help each other develop, but will also boost the prosperity of the region and the world.

　　Masakazu Tokura, President of the Japan Keidanren Federation, pointed out at the press conference that "this leaders' meeting is very meaningful." ".

　　He commented that "the world cannot leave China, and China cannot leave the world", especially in the fields of economy and supply chain.

From the perspective of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, he expressed his expectation for the results of the leaders' meeting.

Strategic independence, stable and long-term progress

　　Regarding this meeting, at the party meeting on the 18th, Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of the Japanese Komeito Party, made a positive evaluation.

He pointed out that China and Japan have taken a "big step, and hope to help promote exchanges between non-governmental and political parties in the future."

Yamaguchi said, "The two sides have both conflicts and differences, as well as cooperation issues. Efforts to manage the relationship through dialogue are very important."

　　As important countries in Asia and the world, China and Japan, as pointed out in the five-point consensus, share the responsibility of maintaining international and regional peace and prosperity.

This time, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and strive to cope with global challenges.

Data map: The Japanese Embassy in China displays the booth of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

　　Chen Yang believes that with the drastic changes in the world situation, the two countries have realized that Sino-Japanese relations should go beyond the development of bilateral relations to a higher level and contribute to the international and regional strengths of China and Japan.

The consensus reached by the two countries in this regard can be said to be the proper meaning of building a Sino-Japanese relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.

If the two sides can earnestly implement the consensus, they will be able to inject more stability into the Asia-Pacific security situation.

　　He noticed that President Xi mentioned in this meeting that China and Japan should "adhere to strategic independence, build good neighborliness, resist conflict and confrontation, and practice true multilateralism."

　　Chen Yang pointed out that if Japan can adhere to its strategic independence and view Sino-Japanese relations from the perspective of long-term interests and regional development, it will undoubtedly help the Sino-Japanese relations to stabilize and go far.

Conversely, if Japan vacillates in its China policy, not only will it not help the healthy development of bilateral relations, but it will also waste Japan's own development opportunities.

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