China-Japan ties: foreign minister asks Tokyo to work with Beijing, but ‘don’t step out of line’

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks on screen during the Tokyo-Beijing Forum on Monday. Next year, China and Japan will mark the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral diplomatic ties. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 9:00pm, 26 Oct 2021Updated: 11:02pm, 26 Oct 2021

Japan should never try to cross a sensitive line with China but should instead work with Beijing to avoid outside interference to better manage disputes and rebuild mutual trust, the Chinese foreign minister said.

Speaking in a video message at the opening ceremony of the two-day Beijing-Tokyo Forum, Wang Yi also called for more mutual exchanges in various fields as the two neighbours prepare for the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.

“Without solid mutual trust, the relationship between China and Japan is just like a rootless tree and water without a source that could hardly advance,” Wang told more than 100 officials, business leaders and scholars in China and Japan, according to a transcript released by the Chinese foreign ministry.

“As matters relating to history and Taiwan, which are of great political importance to the relationship between the two countries, it is imperative that … there is no ambiguity, let alone any attempt to step out of line.”

There were disputes between the two countries, but the two sides needed to overcome their differences, Wang said.

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