Abe Delighted with Improving Japan-China Relations

October 12, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his delight with an improvement in Japan-China relations at a meeting with a senior official of the Communist Party of China on Thursday.

"I'm delighted Japan-China relations are moving forward smoothly," Abe told Song Tao, head of the International Department of the party's Central Committee, who made a courtesy visit to the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

Song replied that China hopes to realize continuous improvements and further developments of the two countries' ties.

Song pointed to increasing uncertainty in the international situation due to severe and complicated changes, apparently bearing in mind the deteriorating U.S.-China relations.

Japan-China relations are gradually getting back on a normal track, contributing to global and regional peace, stability and development, Song said.

Song also met with Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the coalition partner of Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

During the meeting, Yamaguchi showed his expectation for Japan-China cooperation in the area of artificial intelligence and joint economic activities in third countries. Jiji Press