China and Japan Issue Joint Press Communiqué, 2006

1. At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan made an official visit to the People's Republic of China from 8 to 9 October 2006. President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council had separate meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

2. Both sides believed that since the normalization of bilateral relations 34 years ago, China and Japan had continuously expanded and deepened exchanges and cooperation as inter-dependence grew. China and Japan have agreed that bilateral relations are one of the most important diplomatic priorities for both countries. Sustaining the healthy and stable development of Sino-Japanese relations is in the fundamental interests of both countries. The two countries share the new responsibility to jointly and constructively contribute to the peace, stability and development of Asia and the world at large.

3. The two sides agreed to continue to abide by the principles of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration. They agreed to squarely face history and be oriented to the future. They agreed to properly deal with problems affecting the development of relations and to promote bilateral relations through expanding both political and economic links. Both sides agreed to make joint efforts to build a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests and to realize the lofty goals of peaceful co-existence, long-term friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development.

4. Both sides believed that contact and dialogue between their leaders were significant for the healthy development of relations. The Japanese side invited Chinese leaders to visit Japan, for which the Chinese side expressed gratitude and consent in principle. They agreed to further discuss the issue through diplomatic channels and to hold frequent talks on occasions of international meetings.

5. The Chinese side emphasized the peaceful development of China, which would work with other countries, including Japan, to pursue common development and prosperity. The Japanese side commented positively on China's pursuit of peaceful development and the huge opportunities it had brought to the international community, including Japan, since it began to reform and open to the outside world. The Japanese side stressed that Japan had been pursuing, and would continue to pursue, the route of a peaceful country since the end of the World War II more than 60 years ago. The Chinese side commented positively on this.

6. In order to make East China Sea "sea of peace, cooperation and friendship", both sides agreed to properly handle relevant disputes through dialogues and consultations. Both sides vowed to speed up the process of consultation on East China Sea, bear in mind the overall common development and discuss solutions acceptable to both sides.

7. Both sides agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in the areas of politics, economy, security, society and culture.

Both sides agreed to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the pivotal areas such as energy, environmental protection, finance, information technology and the protection of intellectual property rights.

They agreed to advance ministerial-level dialogues, consultations between relevant agencies and dialogues between the government and people in the economic field.

As the year 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan ties, both sides vowed to take the chance to increase friendly feelings between the two peoples through holding China-Japan Year of Culture and Sports as well as youth exchanges.

Both sides agreed to enhance mutual trust in the security field through security dialogues and defense exchanges.

Scholars of the two countries will start joint research of the history within this year.

8. The two countries also agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues.

Both sides expressed deep concern over the latest situation on the Korean Peninsula including the nuclear test issue. Both of them expressed willingness to work with other parties concerned to promote the process of the six-party talks according to the Joint Statement, and dedicate to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and consultation in a bid to safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

The two countries vowed to strengthen coordination on East Asian cooperation and the cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and jointly promote East Asian integration.

Both countries are in favor of "necessary" and "reasonable" reform of the United Nations including its Security Council and are ready to strengthen dialogue in this regard.

9. The Japanese side expressed thanks for the warm hospitality accorded to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to China.

October 8, 2006

Beijing

Original source: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/2649/t276184.htm