On July 8, 2017 local time, President Xi Jinping met at request in Hamburg with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Japan are close and important neighbors. The sound development of bilateral relations concerns the well-being of the two peoples, and also has a key impact on Asia and the world. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations, and the next year is the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Both sides should enhance their sense of responsibility and mission, and suppress interference according to the spirit of taking history as a mirror and facing up to the future, in a bid to promote bilateral relations for improvement and development along the correct direction.

Xi Jinping stressed that since China and Japan normalized their diplomatic relations 45 years ago, bilateral relations have experienced complex twists and turns and severe test, and achieved long-term development, leaving not a few beneficial experience and inspirations. In the new historical period, both countries need to consider the situation, keep a foothold in overall situation and from a long-term perspective, and not only strategically and correctly seize general orientation of peace, friendship and cooperation, but make solid efforts in action. It is hoped that Japan could show its willingness of improving bilateral relations in policies and actions.

Xi Jinping stressed that well maintaining the political foundation is the premise of the healthy development of bilateral relations, Since both sides normalized their diplomatic relations, China and Japan have successively reached four political documents and the four-point principled agreement, and established principles on properly handling issues related to history and Taiwan. These issues, vital to the political foundation of the China-Japan relations, bear no room for compromise or regression, or bilateral relations will veer off the right course and slow down its pace of development. It is hoped that the Japanese side to honor its words and stick to the rules.

Xi Jinping pointed out that economic and trade cooperation is a booster for bilateral relations. Both sides should boost practical cooperation. China welcomes Japan to carry out cooperation within the "Belt and Road" framework with China. Both sides could conduct extensive communication in such areas as culture, education, media, local-level and youth, so as to consolidate social and public opinion foundations for China-Japan relations.

Shinzo Abe expressed that on the occasion of celebrating the 45th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China, and the 40th anniversary of the signing of Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Japan is willing to work with China to make efforts to advance and form the momentum of improvement for bilateral relations. Japan and China, as the world's second and third economies, have significant effects on international and regional affairs. Japan is ready to, together with China, strengthen high-level exchanges and carry out mechanism exchanges, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, finance and tourism and discuss cooperation under the "Belt and Road" framework, and enhance friendship between the two peoples through expanding youth exchanges. There is no change of Japan's stance inscribed in its joint statement on Taiwan issue with China in 1972.

Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.