On the afternoon of July 15, 2016 local time, Premier Li Keqiang met at request with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan in Ulaanbaatar.

Li Keqiang expressed that in recent years, China-Japan relations have ushered in a process towards improvement. However, the progress was slow as the relations were disturbed by certain complicated factors from time to time. Both sides should steadily advance the improvement process of China-Japan relations in the next stage by assuming high responsibility, standing on objective reality and focusing on long-term strategy.

First, both sides should grasp the correct direction of bilateral relations. It is China's consistent and persistent policy to develop a healthy and stable China-Japan relationship. It is hoped that Japan can abide by principles in the four political documents between the two countries, and promote positive and friendly policy toward China in the spirit of reviewing the past and looking into the future. Japan should jointly fulfill the consensus of being cooperation partners that pose no threat to each other, and supporting each other's peaceful development with China.

Second, both sides should properly manage and control contradiction and differences. China's stance on the South China Sea issue fully conforms to the international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. As a party not related to the issue, Japan should speak and act cautiously and do not hype up and intervene in the issue. Regarding the East China Sea issue, both sides should continuously enhance communication through dialogue and consultation according to the spirit of four-point principled consensus, so as to prevent misunderstanding and misjudgment.

Third, both sides should maintain the momentum of dialogue and cooperation. The two sides can gradually recover dialogue and communication in the spirit of equality and mutual respect and increase positive factors for the improvement of bilateral relations. As two major world economies, China and Japan should give play to respective advantages and strengthen economic cooperation.

Fourth, both sides should enhance coordination in international and regional affairs. Both sides should enhance interaction within such mechanisms as the Asia-Europe Meeting and the G20 and carry out international consultation and cooperation in anti-terrorism.

Shinzo Abe expressed that though faced with difficulties in bilateral relations, Japan still hopes to, together with China, enhance exchanges and cooperation, properly manage and control differences, and promote the further improvement and development of bilateral relations based on notions guiding the establishment of Japan-China strategic reciprocal relationship. Japan appreciates China's active measures in promoting economic structural transformation and upgrade against the background of uncertain development prospect of the world economy. It is hoped that both sides can restart the high-level economic dialogue and promote bilateral cooperation in such fields as finance, energy conservation and environmental protection. Japan is willing to make efforts for China’s successful hosting of the G20 Hangzhou Summit so as to jointly contribute to the prevention of world economic crisis. Japan stands ready to conduct counter-terrorism consultation with China and work with the international community to cope with threats posed by global terrorism.