2016年CRI Japan's Sincerity in Improving Bilateral Ties Remains to Be Seen: Chinese FM

As part of the Saturday morning session, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi laid out some frank comments about what the Chinese government expects from Japan when it comes to improving ties.

"In recent years, relations between China and Japan have experienced twists and turns and been at a low ebb 1. The reason, in my opinion, is quite clear to Japan. Now, Japan has proposed several times to improve bilateral 2 relations and expressed the intention of taking the first step. If you come with your sincerity 3, then you are welcome. Just as the old Chinese saying goes 'Note a man's words but judge him by his deeds'. Today I am here to listen to the minister's advice on improving the two countries' relations. Meanwhile, I will wait to see whether you do as you say."

Disputes over the Diaoyu Islands, the upgrading of Japan's military status and issues surrounding history continue to be the main stumbling blocks in improving ties.

Last year, as China marked the 70th anniversary of its victory over Japan in the war, the Japanese government passed a new set of security bills, which allows Japanese troops to be deployed 4 abroad even if Japan itself is not under attack.

This represents a reversal of policy which had existed in Japan since its post-war constitution was drafted after the war to ensure the Japanese military was unable to rise-up again.

Beyond the changes to the military, other remnants of the war over 70-years ago are still haunting the relationship between Japan and China.

In mid-April, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine 5 in Tokyo.

The Shrine, which honors Japan's war-dead, also enshrines 14 former Japanese leaders who were responsible for launching Japan's all-out assault on China and other parts of Asia.

Tributes or visits to the shrine are considered an insult to countries Japan invaded.

Addressing this issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says a responsible attitude about its past aggression 6 by the Japanese side will go a long way toward helping 7 the two sides maintain peace and avoid any future conflicts.

"The China-Japan relationship must be built on the basis of facing up to history, abiding 8 by promises, strengthening cooperation and not confrontation 9. I believe and I hope your visit can play a positive role in the actual improvement of relations between China and Japan."

For his part, Fumio Kishidasays he hopes there will be more exchanges between the two nation's senior leadership.

"We are important neighbors. For quite some time, visits between the foreign ministers of China and Japan have been not been taking place, and that is not what we want. I would like to bring our relationship back to the level where our ministers can visit frequently."

Kishida's trip to Beijing is the first by a senior Japanese diplomat 10 to China in some 4 and a half years.

One of the items on his agenda is reportedly to facilitate a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this September during the G8 Summit, which is to be held in the city of Hangzhou.

Beyond improving bilateral ties, Kishida is also being tasked with discussing regional and economic cooperation between China and Japan.

Despite political differences, China and Japan still remain major trading partners.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.