China and Japan have agreed to resume regular talks between their ruling parties for the first time in six years, signaling a potential thaw in their strained relations. The decision comes after Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised a restart in relations with Japan and South Korea following a three-way summit, where they agreed to revive trade and security dialogue.
Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary-general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, reached the agreement on talks with Liu Jianchao, who leads the Communist Party’s body in charge of managing ties with foreign political parties. Liu specifically requested to restart the Japan-China ruling party exchange council, which was met with approval from Secretary-General Motegi.
The details of how and when the talks will start have not yet been finalized, but the resumption of these exchanges is seen as a positive step towards improving bilateral relations. The ruling party talks were previously held around once a year but have not taken place since 2018.
Liu, who has been busy since coming into office in 2022, also met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. Kishida expressed his desire to build stable and constructive ties with China, emphasizing the importance of exchanges between political parties in developing relations.
The decision to restart talks between the ruling parties of China and Japan could pave the way for improved cooperation and understanding between the two countries, potentially easing tensions over various issues that have strained their relationship in recent years.