Editorial | After welcome thaw in relations, Xi Jinping and Shinzo Abe have much to do

China and Japan, the world’s second and third biggest economies, have every reason to improve cooperation and coordination. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on that course at their meeting before the Group of 20 summit in Osaka last week, sharing concerns about the unilateralism and protectionism of the United States. Their talks, amicable and the first by a Chinese leader on Japanese soil in nine years, proved that long-standing differences over historic and territorial disputes are not the be-all and end-all of the relationship. Their countries and the world should take heart from their pledge to adopt principles and guidelines to take ties to a new level.

Xi’s accepting an invitation from Abe for a state visit to Japan next spring was in itself telling; relations between the nations have been so chilly that even a year ago, such a trip was unthinkable. But with Trump’s administration imposing trade measures and quitting multilateral deals and pacts, putting disagreements to one side and seeking common ground made sense. Japan initiated the thaw and Abe went to Beijing last October, during which the leaders pledged to forge closer links. After last week’s meeting, Xi made plain ties had improved, describing them as being “at a new historical starting line”.

The leaders agreed to push relations forward through joint effort on a wide range of issues of common interest. Among them was accelerating efforts for a free-trade pact between China, Japan and South Korea, protecting multilateralism and the global trading system, and safeguarding peace in the disputed waters of the East China Sea. Japan praised China’s Belt and Road Initiative, desire was expressed to strengthen cooperation on innovation and technology, and willingness to boost interaction through Chinese and Japanese cultural exchanges was promised. Abe said relations would shift from competition to cooperation, there would be a focus on developing free and fair trade and threats between the sides would be eliminated.

These are necessary goals if diplomatic relations are to be improved in line with increased trade, investment and tourism. That has to be especially so given that the G20 summit ended with a weak communique that made no mention of free markets or the importance of multilateralism. Although Xi and US President Donald Trump agreed during talks to resume negotiations to end their countries’ trade war and Washington postponed further tariffs, there was no hint of a resolution. Japan staved off American threats to impose penalties on car parts, but concerns linger of future action.

China and Japan have much to do before relations can be normalised. But Xi and Abe have made a good start, laying out a vision and plan for the way forward.