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China and Japan Hold the Sixth High-Level Economic Dialogue

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 22, 2025 21:44

On March 22, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya co-chaired the sixth China-Japan High-level Economic Dialogue in Tokyo. Officials from 15 government departments of both countries attended the meeting.

Wang Yi said that at the end of last year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met in Lima and agreed to comply with the principles stipulated in the four political documents between China and Japan to comprehensively advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit and build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era, setting out the direction for the efforts of both sides. Today, after six years, the China-Japan High-level Economic Dialogue is held with the aim of delivering on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, strengthening communication on economic development strategies and macroeconomic policies, consolidating the foundation of traditional cooperation, expanding the path of cooperation in new areas and with new models, jointly drawing a new blueprint for China-Japan economic and trade cooperation, and providing solid economic support for comprehensively advancing the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit.

Wang Yi said, since the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, bilateral trade has increased more than 300 times, and has remained at a high level of 300 billion U.S. dollars for 15 consecutive years, with the accumulative two-way investment reaching nearly 140 billion U.S. dollars. The close industrial cooperation and deep integration of economic interests between the two sides have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and fully proved that China and Japan are partners, not rivals. The two countries bring opportunities rather than risks for each other, and the two countries should support each other, not be separated from each other. Amid profound adjustments in the global economic landscape, rising unilateral protectionism, and headwinds to economic globalization, China and Japan, as major economies in the world, should establish a correct understanding of each other, demonstrate responsibilities, seek development with innovative thinking, broaden win-win cooperation, and narrow differences, injecting new impetus into the global economy and provide certainty to a turbulent world.

First, accelerate the transformation and upgrade of economic and trade cooperation. The two countries should establish a new pattern of cooperation fit for the new era, carry forward the fine tradition of promoting political relations through economic cooperation, expand dialogue and exchanges across all sectors and departments, and cultivate more new growth drivers.

Second, achieve strong partnerships for mutual success. Enterprises of the two countries are encouraged to carry out innovative cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy, energy conservation, environmental protection and green trade. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in medical and health care, foster a silver economy, expand cooperation in third-party markets, and bring more benefits to the Global South. Both sides should support each other in hosting the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and the China International Import Expo, and promote sub-national cooperation.

Third, address each other's legitimate concerns in a balanced manner. The two countries should keep working in the same direction with a vision for development. Both sides should make good use of the China-Japan economic partnership consultation and other working mechanisms, create channels for government-business communication, expand market access and eliminate discriminatory restrictions. The two sides should work to avoid politicizing economic security, and maintain stable and smooth industrial and supply chains.

Fourth, strengthen regional and multilateral cooperation. The two countries should uphold Asian values, advocate openness over isolation, promote inclusiveness over exclusiveness, practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system. The parties concerned should accelerate resuming the negotiations for the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Agreement, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with high quality, and advance the process of establishing an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area.

The participating departments had in-depth communication on macro policies, economy, trade, investment, digital economy, green development, ecological and environmental protection, people-to-people and cultural exchanges and regional cooperation, and made plans for the next step of cooperation, reaching a wide range of common understandings.

In conclusion, Wang Yi said that the dialogue, featuring a broader scope and more in-depth discussions, enhanced mutual understanding and confidence in cooperation. It fully proves that China-Japan economic cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, broad prospects and an internal driving force. At a time when unilateral protectionism is rampant, the dialogue that has sent a signal of support for a free trade system, adherence to international trade rules, and alignment with economic globalization, is highly relevant and will be widely welcomed by the international community. Both sides should further widen their horizons and expand cooperation in emerging areas to continuously enrich the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit.