China and Japan, on December 25, agreed to initiate discussions on contentious security issues, marking a step towards repairing a strained relationship.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, on his first visit to China since taking office in October, described his meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi as “very candid” and wide-ranging.
“I feel we were able to build a personal relationship that would lead to the future,” he noted speaking to reporters in Beijing.
Wang Yi is set to visit Japan next year for a high-level economic dialogue addressing cooperation in areas such as environmental initiatives, energy conservation, and healthcare.
Japan, in a gesture to improve bilateral ties, has also eased visa requirements for Chinese visitors. This follows China’s recent decision to allow Japanese nationals to enter without a visa.
Moreover, both nations agreed on the visit of Beijing’s top diplomat to Japan in 2025. This would mark the first such trip in over four years. Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the visit would take place at the earliest appropriate date.
Renewed diplomatic efforts
China’s outreach to Japan is part of a broader diplomatic strategy to stabilize relations with key global players, including India, the UK, and Australia. Analysts suggest this shift may be influenced by China’s desire for stability ahead of potential changes in U.S. leadership.
In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed a desire for constructive and stable ties, emphasizing their “mutually beneficial strategic relationship,” according to Xinhua News Agency.
Economic ties further underscore the importance of this relationship. China is Japan’s largest trading partner, and before the pandemic, Chinese tourists contributed significantly to Japan’s economy.
Trade and environmental cooperation
The two nations have grappled with challenges such as territorial disputes, the Fukushima nuclear plant’s water discharge, and broader geopolitical tensions.
Efforts to ease tensions include China’s willingness to lift its ban on Japanese seafood imports. This ban, enacted after Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, has been a significant point of contention.
According to the Nikkei, China may lift the ban in the first half of 2025, potentially coinciding with Premier Li Qiang’s anticipated visit to Japan in May or June.
As both nations move forward, these diplomatic gestures hint at a potential thaw in relations. While hurdles remain, the commitment to dialogue and cooperation offers a path to improved ties in the years ahead.