Japanese government sources say Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi has begun arrangements to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in China by the end of the year at the earliest.
It would be the first visit to China by a Japanese foreign minister since April last year. It would also mark the first face-to-face meeting between Iwaya and Wang since they took office.
The arrangements come after Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Peru earlier this month. They confirmed that their governments would strive to realize mutual visits by their foreign ministers at an appropriate time with a view toward expanding bilateral dialogue.
Iwaya has expressed his eagerness to actively work to make such visits a reality as soon as possible. He wants to confirm with Wang their intention to work toward building constructive and stable bilateral relations.
Iwaya is also hoping to hold discussions for China to resume imports of Japanese seafood as soon as possible. The two nations reached an agreement in September that would lead to the resumption.
China suspended the imports in August last year after the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began discharging treated and diluted water into the ocean from the crippled plant.
Water used to cool molten fuel at the plant has been mixing with rain and groundwater. The accumulated water is being treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains tritium.
Before releasing the treated water into the ocean, the plant’s operator dilutes it to reduce tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s guidance level for drinking water.
The Japanese government also wants to invite Wang to visit the country at an early date after Iwaya’s trip to China as part of its effort to improve bilateral ties.
Source: politics.einnews.com…
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