FM urges Japan to shore up peace, stability in Asia
Beijing hopes that countries in the region, such as Japan, "will do more things that are conducive to the peace and stability of the region, not the opposite", Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
Wang made the statement during a meeting in Beijing with Yasuo Fukuda, former prime minister of Japan and former chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia.
Wang called on Tokyo to work with Beijing to "secure the general picture of peace and development in Asia".
He praised Fukuda's constant care and positive contribution to the development of Boao Forum for Asia.
Wang said the 21st century is the century of Asia. The current international situation is full of changes and uncertainties, and the factors of instability have increased significantly, but Asia remains peaceful and stable in general, with bright prospects for development, he noted.
The minister voiced his hope that Japan will move toward the same goal with China and tackle the China-Japan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, Wang said.
Tokyo should seriously and properly deal with problems that impede the development of bilateral relations, such as the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima into the sea, he said.
Japan should stick to its established direction of peaceful development and jointly push China-Japan relations to achieve stable and healthy development, he added.
Fukuda said the expanding influence of the Boao Forum for Asia shows that China's drive for good-neighborly diplomacy is yielding positive results.
Japan-China friendship is a common and inevitable choice for the two countries, and Japanese companies are hoping to invest and prosper in China, he said.
Tokyo is willing to work with Beijing to enhance mutual understanding, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, jointly promote Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations, and work together to maintain the good momentum of peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, he added.
