Wang Yi Delivers a Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing-tokyo Forum

On December 7, 2022, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 18th Beijing-tokyo Forum via video link.

Wang Yi recalled that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held their first meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok not long ago. The two sides shared the view that the importance of China-japan relations has not and will not change, and expressed their readiness to make joint efforts to build a China-japan relationship that answers the call of the new era. Noting that 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations and 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Chinajapan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Wang Yi called for taking the two junctures as opportunities to review the original aspiration and mission of the normalization of diplomatic relations, continue fulfilling the purpose of jointly opposing hegemony as enshrined in the Treaty, and promote the sustained and steady development of Chinajapan relations on the right course.

Wang Yi put forward a five-point suggestion: to engage each other with trust and remain firm in political commitments; to contribute to each other’s success and adhere to win-win cooperation; to treat each other with sincerity and commit themselves to peaceful coexistence; to have sincere exchanges and make intensified efforts to cultivate the foundation of friendship; and to adhere to principles and uphold fairness and justice.