Abe vows to boost Japan-China ties to new level

November 15, 2017

Manila- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed on Tuesday to take the country's relations with China to a higher level as next year marks the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of their peace and friendship treaty.

"I'll boost the Japan-China relationship to a new level by helping deepen bilateral exchanges, such as mutual visits by high-level officials," Abe said at a press conference in Manila to wrap up his visits to Vietnam and the Philippines, where he attended a series of bilateral and multilateral summits.

Abe stressed that he agrees with Chinese President Xi Jinping's remark at their meeting in Danang, Vietnam, Saturday that the bilateral summit marks a new start of Japan-China relations.

Abe also said that he hopes China's "One Belt, One Road" development program for countries along the old Silk Road will contribute to world peace and prosperity by fully introducing internationally adopted concepts, including open infrastructure.

"Japan is ready to cooperate with the initiative from such a standpoint," he added. Abe also met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Manila on Monday.

"We've made major progress," Abe said, referring to a broad accord that Japan and 10 other countries reached last week on the new Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, following the United States' exit from the original 12-nation TPP early this year.

"We've taken a big step forward to create a free trade system backed by fair rules and a 21st century-style economic order," he emphasized, adding that Japan will lead discussions to put the new TPP into force as early as possible.

On North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development, he said, "We'll increase pressure on Pyongyang to the maximum level through the full-fledged implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against the country."

Abe also said, "We need to create an environment that will prompt North Korea to seek dialogue." The international society "should make North Korea commit itself to abandoning all of its nuclear and missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner," he said.

Abe noted that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed at their meeting in Danang on Friday to make progress in the two countries' plans to conduct joint economic activities on or around four disputed northwestern Pacific islands and former Japanese residents' trips to the islands for visits to their family graves there.

"Based on our relationship of trust, we'll move forward step by step to achieve the goal of concluding a peace treaty between Japan and Russia through the resolution of the territorial issue over the islands," Abe said.

The islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II. The dispute has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities.

The Japanese leader underscored his resolve to promote his Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at enhancing growth and stability in Asia and Africa, by maintaining and reinforcing a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law. "We can cooperate with any countries, including China, that support the concept," Abe said. Jiji Press

[caption id="attachment_27493" align="alignnone" width="659"] epa06328457 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Manila, Philippines, 14 November 2017. The Philippines is hosting the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings from 10 to 14 November. EPA/MARK R. CRISTINO[/caption]