Source: Global Times
[Reported by the Global Times Correspondent Jing Xiao] Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Moriyama Yu will lead a cross-party delegation of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League to visit China from April 27th to 29th. This is not only his second visit to China this year but also his first visit as the newly appointed president of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League.
According to reports by Japan's Sankei Shimbun, Moriyama Yu stated at a press conference on the 22nd regarding Sino-Japanese relations that "it is important for both sides to work together to reduce the issues and unresolved problems between the two countries and increase cooperation and collaboration." He expressed his intention to engage in discussions with China and said, "I expect the visit by the parliamentary league to bring concrete progress in improving bilateral relations."
The President of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito, has just concluded his visit to China. As a member of Japan's ruling coalition, Komeito released a message on its official website on the 25th stating that Tetsuo Saito mentioned during the discussion of the results of this visit that the annual visits by the Komeito president to China over many years have nurtured a "bond" of friendship between Japan and China and fostered trust. There is an intention to pass this relationship down to the next generation. Tetsuo Saito emphasized that mutual coordination and the construction of friendly relations between Japan and China are extremely important for peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia and the world. In the future, Komeito will continue to stand at the forefront of "peaceful diplomacy."
Tetsuo Saito, data photo, image source: Visual China
Bloomberg reported on the 25th that under the backdrop of the US-China tariff standoff, the consecutive visits of key members of Japan's ruling party to Beijing aim to maintain communication channels with China. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun commented on the 25th that it is uncommon for key members of the ruling party to visit China in such a short period.
Houyu Xiang, a specially invited researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, was interviewed by the Global Times on the 26th and stated that the high-level interactions between China and Japan recently send a special message to the outside world, and their influence is not limited to the bilateral level. At the critical moment when America's tariff policies are disrupting the global economic order, the close interaction between China and Japan is itself a geopolitical impact caused by America's tariff war. It is a response from China and Japan as major global economic powers to America's unilateralism and protectionist backlash.
Shunjia Sun, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, also mentioned a keyword - pragmatism. Sun stated that Japan's recent series of diplomatic activities are not only strategic signals sent to Beijing but also a "pragmatic" response to the rising trade protectionism. Now, the global trading system is undergoing profound changes. America's tariff policy has put Japan, as a close ally, in a dilemma: on one hand, pressured by the US to "decouple" from China; on the other hand, needing to maintain economic and trade relations with Beijing. China and Japan remain deeply interdependent economically, which forces Tokyo to proceed cautiously even under increasing pressure from Washington.
Natsuo Yamaguchi, the former president of Komeito, and Eichi Ishii will also visit China from the 28th to the 30th. According to reports by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Natsuo Yamaguchi revealed to the media after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the 24th that he is coordinating to visit Nankai University during his visit to China, calling it "educational and cultural exchange."
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497754688922681893/
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