Japan yesterday said that a Chinese military delegation was on a rare exchange visit as the Asian neighbors attempt to thaw frosty ties ahead of US president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday next week.
Members of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army were visiting their Japanese counterparts and senior Japanese defense officials from Monday through Friday, Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.
The trip was organized after the Japanese and Chinese defense ministers met in November last year in Laos on the sidelines of a regional defense gathering, where they agreed to increase exchanges among troops, Hayashi said.
Photo: Reuters
“For the first time in five years, this resumes exchanges among troops,” he told a regular news conference.
“The promotion of mutual understanding and trust through frank communication at commanders’ level will contribute to the building of constructive and stable relations between Japan and China. We think this visit contributes to the peace and stability of the region,” Hayashi said.
The Eastern Theater Command echoed the view.
“This visit will help enhance understanding and mutual trust between the two sides, and promote defense exchanges between China and Japan,” it said in a statement.
Japan and China have been trying to patch up relations that for years have been strained by territorial and historical disputes, as well as other issues.
To ease tensions, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya last month visited Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅).
Japanese lawmakers were also visiting China this week, and Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Taku Eto is due in the country today.
Japanese National Security Adviser Takeo Akiba visited China in November last year and held talks with Wang. Tokyo is expected to invite Wang to Japan next month, seeking to pave the way for a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the Nikkei reported.
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