20 BEIJING REVIEW AUGUST 29, 2019 http://www.bjreview.comWORLD
C
hina and Japan have resumed a new
round of strategic dialogue after a seven-
year hiatus. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister
Le Yucheng and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister
Takeo Akiba co-chaired the dialogue in Nagano,
Japan, in early August. The two sides concluded
candid and in-depth exchanges on bilateral rela-
tions as well as international and regional issues
of common interest, reaffirming that they will
actively implement the consensus reached at a
leaders’ meeting on the sidelines of the Group
of 20 Summit in the Japanese city of Osaka in
June, and strive to build China-Japan relations in
line with the requirements of the new era.expressed a desire to improve bilateral ties and
presented a personal letter signed by Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inviting Chinese poli-
ticians, especially the president, to visit Japan.
Along with Nikai, Japan sent Takaya Imai,
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to attend the First BRF. Imai’s presence indi-
cated that the visit was not only an attempt to
create an environment for improving bilateral
relations, but also to show Japan’s shift toward
a positive response to the Belt and Road
Initiative which was put forward by the Chinese
Government in 2013.
Abe, who took office for the second time
in December 2012, with the main agenda of
getting rid of the post-war system, actively im-
plemented a series of policies to contain China.
He envisaged a strategy whereby Australia,
India, Japan and the United States would form a
“democratic security diamond” to “safeguard”
the maritime commons stretching from the
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tual intent of competing with China. Meanwhile,Launched in 2005, China-Japan strategic
dialogue is an important platform for the two
countries to communicate ideas, enhance mu-
tual understanding, seek consensus and build
mutual political trust. Thus, the resumption of
the dialogue is a sign that the call to return to
a normal track of bilateral ties is being pursued.
The turnaround in China-Japan relations in
the past two years has shown some practical
changes, creating favorable conditions for the
future.Positive changes
The Japanese side began to adjust its policy
toward China in 2017, when the international
situation became increasingly complicated and
unpredictable. In May of that year, Toshihiro
Nikai, General Secretary of Japan’s ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, led a delegation to China
to attend the First Belt and Road Forum for
International Cooperation (BRF). During his
talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Nikai1HZó&KLQD-DSDQóVWUDWHJLFóWDONVóVKRZóSRVLWLYHóVLJQV By Shi Yongming
Candid Dialogue
The author is an op-ed
contributor to Beijing Review
and a senior researcher on
international studiesXINHUAA visitor walks past a set of Qing Dynasty illustrations during a preview of the exhibition Three Kingdoms: Unveiling the Story at the Tokyo National Museum on July 8