China-Japan Foreign Ministers' Phone Talk Confirms Policy to Resume Suspended Business Visits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone call on the 29th and agreed to promptly start consultations to resume exchanges between the two countries, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Earlier, the Japanese government stated that it would take steps to resume human exchanges with China and other countries, which had been virtually suspended due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). On this day, the foreign ministers of both countries reaffirmed this policy.

During the phone call, Foreign Minister Motegi raised issues concerning maritime matters around the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu Dao in Chinese) and strongly demanded action from the Chinese side.

This is interpreted as a protest against Chinese government vessels approaching the Senkaku Islands day after day.

Foreign Minister Motegi is also reported to have conveyed the Japanese government's concerns regarding Hong Kong.

Amid rising criticism within Japan over China's Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law), it appears that the government expressed its regret at the official level.

Additionally, both sides agreed to coordinate in a way that mutually recognizes business-related economic personnel exchanges on the condition of conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, NHK reported.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abe announced at the COVID-19 task force meeting held on the 22nd that consultations would be promoted to resume necessary business-related exchanges with 12 Asian countries and regions including South Korea, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Laos.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.