On November 19, 2009, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada, exchanging views on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common concern in a candid and in-depth manner.

Yang said since the new Japanese government was formed after the Aug. 30 general election, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have met respectively with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the China-Japan-ROK trilateral leaders' meeting, reaching important consensus on advancing China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations. The political trust between both sides has increased remarkably and their exchanges and cooperation have been moving forward steadily. Bilateral ties enjoy a good start and face new opportunities for further development.

Yang put forward a four-point proposal on developing China-Japan relations. First, the two countries should seize current favorable opportunities to further increase input in bilateral ties, maintain high-level mutual visits and push forward bilateral ties. Second, both sides should pursue more positive policies towards each other, enhance strategic trust, and make full use of China-Japan economic high-level dialogue and other mechanisms to advance economic and trade cooperation. The Shanghai Expo should be taken as an opportunity to expand cultural and youth exchanges. Third, both sides should give priority to their cooperation in Asia and jointly promote China-Japan-ROK cooperation and East Asian cooperation from a strategic perspective. Both sides should focus on ensuring long-term peace and stability of Northeast Asia, and work with other parties concerned to promote the six-party talks and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Fourth, both sides should bear in mind the healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns. On issues where divergences still remain, the two countries should seek proper solutions on the basis of dialogue and consultation by proceeding from the overall situation.

Okada said he was glad that leaders of both countries met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the China-Japan-ROK trilateral leaders' meeting. He urged both sides to further expand cooperation in all fields. Both sides should build up mutual trust through defense exchange including naval ship visits, boost contacts between their young and middle-aged cadres, youth and media and exchange opinions on bilateral, regional and global issues in a candid and in-depth manner. Japan is ready to work together with China to push bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations to yield fruitful results. The Shanghai Expo is an important opportunity to strengthen personnel exchanges of the two countries and Japan encourages its people to actively participate in the great event.

Besides, both sides agreed to form the new 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship. Tang Jiaxuan and Taizo Nishimuro will be the chief Chinese member and the chief Japanese member of the committee respectively. The committee will convene its first meeting early next year.

Both sides also exchanged views on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and climate change.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai attended the meeting.

Yang Jiechi arrived in Tokyo on November 19 for an official visit to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.