After a six-year hiatus, China and Japan have agreed to resume regular talks between their ruling parties. The strained relationship between the two economic powerhouses has been affected by various issues, including maritime activities and the Fukushima nuclear plant’s treated water release. Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised a restart in relations with Japan and South Korea following their recent three-way summit.
The agreement to restart talks signals a positive step towards reviving trade and security discussions that have been impacted by global tensions. Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s secretary-general, and Liu Jianchao, who leads the Communist Party’s foreign political party relations department, reached the agreement during Liu’s visit to Tokyo. The decision to resume exchanges between the ruling parties marks a significant development.
Details about the timing and format of the talks are yet to be finalized, as the last ruling party talks occurred in 2018. Liu’s active engagement and meetings with Japanese officials indicate a potential role as China’s next foreign minister. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the importance of stable and constructive ties with China during his discussions with Liu.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.