China FM in Japan to Discuss Virus, Regional Concerns

World

November 24th, 10:11am

Asharq Al-Awsat

China' Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi bump elbows at the start of their talks amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2020. (AP)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss ways to revive their pandemic-hit economies as well as regional concerns over China’s growing influence. Wang and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi were expected to discuss resuming business trips between the world’s No. 2 and No. 3 economies through a “business track” program that would allow visitors to engage in limited business activity during 14-day quarantine periods. Japan recently launched such arrangements with a few less-infected Asian countries. Wang's visit comes as Japan is grappling with a resurgence of coronavirus infections and the government struggles to balance disease prevention and the economy. Chinese visitors topped the number of tourists in Japan before the pandemic. Wang is to meet with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday, the first meeting with a Japanese leader by a top Chinese official since the February visit of Chinese foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi. Japan and China say they are not currently considering rescheduling Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Japan, postponed from the spring due to the pandemic. Relations between the two countries have been strained over territorial disputes and wartime history. But ties have improved in recent years while China’s trade dispute with the US has escalated. Japan, a key US ally, sees China as a crucial trading partner and faces the challenge of balancing its relations with both nations. The visit also comes amid growing concerns about China’s increasing influence in the region. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held talks last week with Suga and agreed to step up their military partnership to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region as a counter to China’s rise. Japan and Australia, along with the US and India, are also trying to bring in Southeast Asian nations and others to join their cooperation. Beijing has criticized the moves. After his visit to Japan, Wang will head for meetings in South Korea.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2644346/china-fm-japan-discuss-virus-regional-concerns