[Title] Joint Statement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Comprehensive Promotion of a "Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests"
In response to an invitation extended by the Government of Japan, President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China made an official visit to Japan as a state guest from May 6 to May 10, 2008. During his visit to Japan, President Hu met with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. President Hu also had talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and they reached a common understanding on various points related to the comprehensive promotion of a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" and issued the following joint statement.
1. The two sides recognized that the Japan-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships for each of the two countries and that Japan and China now have great influence on and bear a solemn responsibility for peace, stability, and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world. They also recognized that the two countries' sole option is to cooperate to enhance peace and friendship over the long term. The two sides resolved to comprehensively promote a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" and to achieve the noble objectives of peaceful coexistence, friendship for generations, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common development for their two nations.
2. The two sides again stated that the Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China issued on September 29, 1972, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China signed on August 12, 1978, and the Japan-China Joint Declaration issued on November 26, 1998, are the political foundation for advancing the Japan-China relationship in a stable fashion and forging the future of the relationship. The leaders confirmed that they would continue to observe the principles enunciated in the three documents. Moreover, both sides confirmed that they would continue to uphold and fully implement the common views enunciated in the Japan-China Joint Press Statements of October 8, 2006 and April 11, 2007.
3. The two sides resolved to face history squarely, advance toward the future, and endeavor with persistence to create a new era of a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" between Japan and China. They announced that they would align Japan-China relations with the trends of international community and together forge a bright future for the Asia-Pacific region and the world while deepening mutual understanding, building mutual trust, and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between their nations in an ongoing fashion into the future.
4. The two sides recognized that they are partners who cooperate together and are not threats to each other. The two sides again stated that they would support each other's peaceful development, and they shared the conviction that Japan and China, that uphold the course to peaceful development, would bring great opportunities and benefits to Asia and the world.
(1) The Japanese side expressed its positive evaluation of the fact that China's development since the start of reform and open policy, saying China's development has offered great opportunities for the international community including Japan. The Japanese side stated its support of China's resolve to contribute to the building of a world that fosters lasting peace and common prosperity.
(2) The Chinese side expressed its positive evaluation of Japan's consistent pursuit of the path of a peaceful country and Japan's contribution to the peace and stability of the world through peaceful means over more than sixty years since World War・. The two sides agreed to strengthen dialogue and communication on the issue of United Nations reform and to work toward enhancing common understanding with each other on this matter. The Chinese side attaches importance to Japan's position and role in the United Nations and desires Japan to play an even greater constructive role in the international community.
(3) Both sides stated that they would resolve bilateral issues through consultations and negotiations.
5. Regarding the Taiwan issue, the Japanese side again expressed its adherence to the position enunciated in the Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
6. Both sides resolved to cooperate together while building frameworks for dialogue and cooperation, cooperate together based on the following five pillars:
(1) Enhancement of mutual trust in the political area
The two sides recognized that fostering mutual trust in the political and security area is of great significance to the building of a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" between Japan and China and resolved as follows:
- To build a mechanism for the periodic exchange of visits by the leaders of the two countries, with the leader of one country visiting the other country once a year in principle; to convene summit meetings frequently, including holding meetings on the occasion of international conferences; to strengthen the mechanism for exchange and strategic dialogue between the governments, parliaments, and political parties of the two countries; to improve communication regarding the two countries' bilateral relationship, their domestic and international policies, and the international situation; and to endeavor to enhance the transparency of those policies.
- To enhance the exchange of high-level visits in the area of security, promote various forms of dialogue and exchange, and further enhance mutual understanding and trust.
- To engage in close cooperation to develop greater understanding and pursuit of basic and universal values that are commonly accepted by the international community and to deepen once again understanding of culture that Japan and China have cultivated and shared together over their long history of exchange.
(2) Promotion of people-to-people and cultural exchange as well as sentiments of friendship between the people of Japan and China
The two sides confirmed that persistently promoting mutual understanding and sentiments of friendship between the people and particularly the youth of their two countries would contribute to the strengthening of the foundation of friendship and cooperation between Japan and China over generations and resolved as follows:
- To implement a full spectrum of cultural and intellectual interchange by broadly developing exchanges between the two countries' mass media, friendship cities, as well as sports and private organizations.
- To promote youth exchange on a continuing basis.
(3) Enhancement of mutually beneficial cooperation
The two sides resolved to engage particularly in the following areas of cooperation so that Japan and China, which have a major influence on the world economy, can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world economy:
- To conduct cooperation with particular priority on the areas of energy and the environment, based on the recognition that they have a responsibility to future generations and the international community to engage in such cooperation.
- To promote mutually beneficial cooperation and expand common benefits in a wide range of fields, including trade, investment, information and communication technology, finance, food and product safety, protection of intellectual property rights, business environment, agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries, transport and tourism, water, and healthcare.
- To strategically and effectively use the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue.
- To work together to make the East China Sea a "Sea of Peace, Cooperation and Friendship."
(4) Contribution to the Asia-Pacific region
The two sides agreed that Japan and China, as major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, would maintain close communication and strengthen their coordination and cooperation regarding issues in the region. They resolved to promote cooperation with priority on the following:
- To jointly do the utmost to maintain peace and stability in the Northeast Asia region and to together promote the Six-Party Talks process. Moreover, both sides shared the recognition that the normalization of Japan-North Korea relations is of great significance to the peace and stability of the Northeast Asia region. The Chinese side welcomes and supports efforts to resolve the outstanding issues of concern between Japan and North Korea and normalize the bilateral relations.
- To promote regional cooperation in East Asia based on the three principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness and to together promote the realization of peace, prosperity, stability, and openness in Asia.
(5) Contribution to the resolution of global issues
The two sides agreed that, as Japan and China shoulder greater responsibility for the peace and development of the world in the 21st century, they would strengthen coordination regarding key international issues and together promote the building of a world that fosters lasting peace and common prosperity. The two sides resolved to engage in the following cooperation:
- To actively participate in the building of an effective post-2012 international framework on climate change based on the Bali Action Plan and the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- To strategically undertake effective cooperation and together make appropriate contribution to promote the resolution of global issues such as energy security, environmental protection, poverty, contagious diseases, and other global issues which are common challenges that the two countries face.
Issued in Tokyo on May 7, 2008
Prime Minister of Japan
President of the People's Republic of China