Japan, China cover forced tech transfers and Huawei during talks in Beijing
- Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono says two countries have the opportunity to ‘take charge of the economic field’ at a time of global uncertainty
- Japanese delegation also raised intellectual property and data protection and Chinese industrial subsidies during the meeting
China and Japan held an expanded ministerial meeting on Sunday, focusing on economic issues ranging from trade and investment to better protection of intellectual property rights, amid a dimming global growth outlook.
The high-level economic dialogue, led by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono, was held in Beijing at a time when the Asian powers are seeking to boost cooperation after years of political tensions.
Kono told Wang that both countries had the opportunity to “take charge of the economic field” during a period of global uncertainty.
“It goes without saying it’s important that the second- and third-largest economies in the world hold constructive discussions on economic ties,” Kono said, adding that relations between the two countries had “completely recovered” last year.
In a press briefing late on Sunday, Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Takeshi Osuga said Japan’s delegation had raised issues including forced technology transfers, intellectual property and data protection and Chinese industrial subsidies during the talks.