Kono, Wang Agree to Step Up Work for Abe Visit to China

September 28, 2018

New York- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, reaffirmed Thursday that they will accelerate work to realize a visit to China by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being arranged for October.

At their meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York, Kono and Wang, who doubles as state councillor, also agreed to further promote efforts to improve Japan-China ties.

Wang said the two countries must continue to make mutual concessions, respond appropriately to differences and develop their relations stably on a long-term basis.

Welcoming the remark by Wang, Kono said having been able to communicate frequently at the foreign minister level indicates that Japan and China have restored the stances they are supposed to adopt as neighbors.

Elsewhere in the talks, which lasted about 40 minutes, Kono conveyed to Wang his view that concrete progress needs to be made in the negotiations to start joint gas development in the East China Sea and in the efforts to ensure ocean safety.

The two foreign ministers agreed to surely implement U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea.

Kono pointed out that ship-to-ship transfers of banned goods, done as part of North Korea's attempts to escape economic sanctions, have recently been taking place in waters close to China.

He asked China to crack down on such activities, and Wang promised to respond with severe measures.

The two held talks for the fourth time this year. They last met in Singapore in August. Jiji Press