Abe vows to improve Japan-China relations significantly

January 6, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his strong determination on Friday to significantly improve Japan's relations with China this year, which marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral peace and friendship treaty.

"I want to make 2018 a year in which the people of both countries recognize significant improvement in relations," Abe said in a speech during a New Year's greeting party organized by the Jiji Press group.

Abe aims to realize a reciprocal visit by him and Chinese President Xi Jinping to each other's country this year. The Japanese prime minister exchanged words with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua, who attended the party.

In the speech, Abe said North Korea's nuclear and missile development and a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia are also high on his diplomatic agenda.

Abe also said he will put top priority on the economy. "I will push forward with policies aimed at pulling the country out of deflation," he said.

He said a new Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement should be signed at an early date.

Describing the pact as a new engine for his Abenomics economic policy, Abe said he aims to utilize it to ensure economic growth.

Japan and 10 other countries reached a broad agreement on the new TPP in November after the United States pulled out of the original 12-country agreement earlier last year. Jiji Press