China foreign ministry, on Japan urging others not to attend military parade: China has lodged serious representation to Japan side

China foreign ministry, on Japan urging others not to attend military parade: China has lodged serious representation to Japan side

China and Japan have taken a significant step towards thawing their strained relations, as evident from their recent high-level economic dialogue. The sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue, held in Tokyo on March 22, 2025, concluded with 20 key consensus points, signaling a renewed commitment to economic collaboration between the two nations [1].

The dialogue, co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, marked the resumption of dialogue after a six-year hiatus. This resumption is seen as a positive development by Chinese experts, indicating Japan's willingness to improve ties with China across various fields [1].

The dialogue covered a wide range of areas, including green development, environmental protection, elderly care services, service trade, food safety, supply chains, and intellectual property protection. Both sides agreed to support each other in hosting multiple events and holding consultations at various levels. They also agreed to hold the seventh China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue in China at an appropriate time [1].

Wang Yi emphasized that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, bilateral trade has increased more than 300 times, reaching a high level of $300 billion for 15 consecutive years. The accumulated bilateral investment has reached nearly $140 billion, proving that China and Japan are partners, not rivals [1].

However, the dialogue was not without its challenges. China's position opposing Japan's unilateral decision to discharge Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water remains unchanged. Both sides reaffirmed their understanding of the consensus issued on September 20, 2024, and confirmed the ongoing implementation of long-term international monitoring against discharge, along with China's independent sampling and monitoring. On the premise that no abnormalities are found in the results, relevant consultations on the import of Japanese aquatic products into China will be conducted [1].

In addition to the economic dialogue, Wang Yi also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, during which Wang stressed the importance of correctly understanding and treating history as a prerequisite for Japan's post-war return to the international community [1].

While the dialogue signals a warming trend in China-Japan relations, there are still challenges to overcome. Some right-wing forces in Japan may oppose these bilateral consensuses, and it remains to be seen how these consensuses can be implemented [1].

Separately, South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has been officially invited to attend China's military parade marking the end of World War II on September 3, 2025. This invitation underscores the improving relations between China and South Korea [2].

These developments suggest that China and Japan are working towards a more stable and cooperative relationship, which could have significant implications for the broader Asia-Pacific region.

References:
[1] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330692.shtml
[2] https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250820007300315