China’s Xi and Japan’s Abe vow to get ties on a healthy track
Two leaders call for action to tackle tensions over historical issues and territorial disputes in the East China Sea during their meeting in Hamburg
The leaders of China and Japan vowed to boost talks and exchanges to get bilateral ties on a healthy track when they met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg on Saturday, despite the long-term disputes overshadowing relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe affirmed the importance of building “stable” relations. But in remarks that reflected deep-rooted tensions, Abe called on Beijing to do more to ease the situation in the East China Sea, while Xi said Japan should “clear away distractions” affecting Sino-Japanese ties. The half-hour meeting between the two leaders came at a time of improving relations, although the two nations remain divided over historical issues and territorial disputes in the East China Sea.
Two US B-1B bombers trained with Japanese fighters over the East China Sea on Friday, where China and Japan have contesting claims. Beijing has also expressed dismay at Japan forging closer ties with Southeast Asian nations involved in its disputes over the South China Sea.
In Hamburg on Saturday, Xi told Abe that Japan should be cautious in its handling of their disputes and issues to do with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province. “On important issues relating to the political foundation of China and Japan, China will not make any concession nor take any step back,” Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying. “Only that the Sino-Japanese relations will not deviate from a normal track.”
