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Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is visiting China during the weekend (Jan. 27-28) to promote ties between the two countries. This is the first official visit to China for Kono after taking office, and he is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Sunday in Diaoyutai in Beijing.
Bilateral dialogue between Beijing and Tokyo has been slow. Kono said he hopes to address outstanding issues, and promote cooperation and communications between the two neighbors.
Japanese media have reported that there are couple things on Kono's agenda.
In August 2017, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono (L) met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) in Manila, Philippines, during the series of Foreign Ministers' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation.
Tokyo is looking to hold a trilateral summit with China and South Korea in early April, so Kono is likely to bring up that possibility during the meeting with Wang Yi. Moreover, Kono might also want subsequent reciprocal visits by Prime Minister Abe and President Xi.
Media reports say Kono aims to reach a bilateral agreement on social security that would eliminate dual pension payments by Japanese expats in China and vice versa. Officials said the deal would apply to roughly 70,000 employees of Japanese companies in China, saving more than 368 million US dollars a year.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP, business cooperation and other trade deals might also be brought up during the visit.
On China-led Belt and Road Initiative, Kono said Japan and China cooperating to address the immense needs for infrastructure in Asia would bring great benefits to the economy of both countries as well as to the prosperity of Asia.
In addition, tensions over the Diaoyu Islands are likely to be brought up by Kono.
The Japanese foreign minister is also expected to meet with State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Japan's NHK news reported that Kono also hopes to meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, and Tokyo hopes to use Kono's visit to ease the ground for more high-level talks.
(CGTN)
