[Source/Observation Network by Ruan Jiaqi]

From April 22 to 25, Shigefu Saito, leader of Japan's ruling coalition partner Komeito Party, led a delegation to visit China for three days. On the regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on April 22, China expressed its welcome.

According to a Bloomberg report on April 22, Saito will be responsible for delivering a handwritten letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Chinese leaders during this trip. Local time on Monday (April 21), Saito told reporters after meeting with Ishiba that "the prime minister told me that he may need some more time to visit China, so he hopes I can deliver this handwritten letter on his behalf before then."

In addition, according to NHK Japan, Saito also told reporters, "The prime minister said to me, 'I hope you can clearly convey our position.' We hope to meet with as many senior Chinese leaders as possible, but everything is not yet confirmed at this moment."

He added that this visit to China belongs to inter-party foreign affairs activities. The Komeito Party hopes to exchange views frankly on issues of concern to the Japanese people and unresolved matters from a perspective different from the government.

When asked whether there might be an exchange of opinions on US tariff measures during the visit to China, Saito said, "I cannot predict whether the Chinese side will raise related issues. But for any issue raised by the Chinese side, I will definitely convey Japan's position clearly."

Regarding the China-Japan relationship, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said at a press conference on the same day that in order to comprehensively promote the strategic mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries and steadily advance bilateral relations, both sides need to reduce differences and increase collaborative links.

He stated, "I hope that this visit by Saito will strengthen further exchanges and communication between the two countries. It is very important to deepen communication and exchanges at all levels, including parliamentary exchanges."

On April 21, local time, Shigefu Saito (left), leader of the Komeito Party, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (right). Komeito Party official website.

The last visit by the leader of the Komeito Party to China was in November 2023. According to a report by the Japanese Daily News on April 22, this visit is also the first time Saito has visited China since taking office as party leader last November.

The Japanese media also pointed out that this visit coincides with a special period when China and the United States are at odds due to the absurd tariff policies of the Trump administration, and thus attracted much attention. The Komeito Party plans to utilize its unique communication channels with China to promote further development of Sino-Japanese relations.

According to the Daily News, the Komeito Party has always attached great importance to Sino-Japanese relations. Since assuming the post of party leader, Saito has strongly hoped to visit China. After private coordination, he reached an agreement with China on this visit schedule, which just happened shortly after the implementation of Trump's so-called "reciprocal tariffs".

The Japanese media further noted that this is an important visit by a key figure in the Ishiba government after the imposition of mutual tariffs between China and the US, and is also considered a valuable opportunity to understand whether China's attitude toward Japan has changed.

The report stated that Japan regards the Japan-US alliance as the core foundation of its diplomacy while also attaching great importance to strengthening relations with China, its largest trading partner. The Bloomberg Japan edition analysis suggests that entrusting the handwritten letter to Saito, a cadre of the ruling party, also reflects a certain degree of emphasis.

In a press conference on April 18, Saito mentioned during his discussion of the visit itinerary that the escalation of the US-China tariff friction certainly does not benefit Japan's national interests. While Japan is negotiating with the United States, as a political party, considering the impact of the world economy on Japan's economy, the Komeito Party hopes to conduct consultations conducive to national interests with China.

The Japanese media reported that it is expected that Saito will also provide detailed explanations to the Chinese side regarding the situation Japan faces in tariff measures.

A senior member of the Komeito Party told the Daily News, "The Komeito Party absolutely does not want to conflict with China. We need to convey through diplomatic channels and dialogue our strong desire for US-China relations and Japan-China relations to improve."

Bloomberg Japan also mentioned that the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League, chaired by the ruling party's secretary-general Hidekazu Mori, will organize a delegation of about fifteen people and plans to visit China for three days starting on April 27.

Before embarking on the visit to China, Ambassador Wu Jianghao of the Chinese Embassy in Japan met with Saito on April 16. A message released on the Chinese Embassy's website on April 21 stated that Ambassador Wu Jianghao expressed that at this critical stage of improving and developing Sino-Japanese relations, interactions between the two countries at various levels have increased. As Party Leader Saito is about to lead a delegation to visit China, we look forward to this visit playing a positive role in deepening party-to-party exchanges and consolidating the momentum of improvement in Sino-Japanese relations.

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496055406054195763/

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