Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi has urged China to work to uncover the overall picture of the killing of a boy attending a Japanese school in China as soon as possible.
Iwaya spoke over the phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday evening for about 45 minutes. Iwaya assumed his post earlier this month under the new prime minister, Ishiba Shigeru.
The two confirmed that Japan and China share the broad goal of comprehensively promoting a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests and building constructive and stable ties.
Iwaya referred to the fatal incident last month in which the boy was attacked by a knife-wielding man on his way school in Shenzhen. He said anxiety is rising among Japanese in China. He called on the Chinese side to uncover the facts behind the boy’s killing as soon as possible and proposed that the two countries confirm measures to prevent a recurrence.
The two ministers discussed an agreement for China to resume imports of Japanese seafood. Iwaya asked China to restart the imports at an early date. Beijing has suspended them over the release of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.
The discharged water has been treated to remove most radioactive substances, but still contains traces of tritium. Before releasing the treated water into the ocean, the operator of the Fukushima plant dilutes it to reduce tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s guidance level for drinking water.
Iwaya expressed serious concern that China has increased its military activity in the East China Sea. Over Taiwan, he said Tokyo is closely watching developments, including the recent military situation. He also said peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is extremely important for the international community.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says Wang told Iwaya that China appreciates the positive signals from Tokyo since the Cabinet, including Iwaya, took office. It says China looks forward to a new atmosphere in the new Cabinet and new developments in bilateral ties.
The ministry adds that the two sides should comprehensively advance their strategic and mutually beneficial relationship and build constructive and stable bilateral relation that meet the needs of the new era.