Japan vows to tackle ‘outstanding issues’ with China before Xi Jinping’s trip

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi says the two countries ‘share a great responsibility to ensure the peace and prosperity of Asia and the world’

Some conservative lawmakers believe state visit by Chinese president could send wrong message amid East China Sea dispute and human rights concerns

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Japan’s foreign minister said Tokyo would take “a calm and resolute approach” to the dispute over the Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyus in China. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:53pm, 20 Jan 2020Updated: 2:54pm, 17 Feb 2020

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Monday vowed to tackle “outstanding issues” between Japan and China to clear the way for a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for spring.

Both countries “share a great responsibility to ensure the peace and prosperity of Asia and the world”, Motegi said in a speech laying out the government’s foreign policy at the start of this year’s regular Diet session.

As such, Tokyo and Beijing should hold regular high-level dialogue and step up exchanges and cooperation in various fields, he said.

Motegi’s speech came amid opposition to Xi’s state visit by some conservative Japanese lawmakers who believe it could send the wrong message amid an ongoing bilateral territorial dispute in the East China Sea as well as human rights concerns in Hong Kong and the far western Xinjiang region.

Visiting as a state guest, Xi will have an audience with Emperor Naruhito and a banquet at the Imperial Palace.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tokyo would not tolerate “a unilateral effort to change the status quo” in the East China Sea. Photo: Reuters

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