On Aug 25, Premier Li Keqiang met with Shotaro Yachi, secretary general of the National Security Secretariat of Japan, who arrived in China to attend the third China-Japan high-level political dialogue.

Despite improving momentum, bilateral relations between the two nations are still vulnerable. Both sides should keep the long-term picture in mind, stick to the four political documents signed between the two countries in the spirit of reviewing the history while looking into the future, focus on positive factors and reduce negative factors, so as to bring China-Japan relations back on track, said Premier Li.

Next year and the year after that will mark the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty, the Premier added.

He said that he hopes both sides can take advantage of opportunities to properly handle old and new problems between the two countries, steadily promote communication and cooperation, and keep the improving momentum going.

Premier Li said he wishes that active and friendly policies will be carried out on strategic level and Japan can have a real understanding of China, act on its declaration that it will consider China’s development as opportunities, and properly manage differences, especially the maritime issues, and maintain peace and stability on sea.

Shotaro Yachi read Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s letter to Premier Li Keqiang. Shinzo Abe wrote that based on forging a strategic relationship of mutual benefit, Japan seeks to build stable relations with China.

Abe added that the Japanese side wishes the upcoming G20 Hangzhou summit will be a success, and Japan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this respect.

Yachi said that Japan hopes to enhance bilateral high-level exchanges and institutional communication, ease differences in the East China Sea, and maintain maritime peace and stability.

Japan is also willing to take the opportunity of the anniversaries of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations and the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship in the next two years to further deepen bilateral exchanges, Yachi added.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi attended the meeting.