Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded two days of meetings in Tokyo with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu. In a move which will be giving Mike Pompeo nightmares, the two announced a series of measures to enhance the cooperation between the two countries, which represents a significant upgrade in their relationship. They will establish close cooperation with regard to fighting the COVID pandemic, which is experiencing a spike in Japan, including creating a “fast channel” for personnel from both countries to travel to the other in the task of overcoming the pandemic and resuming production. And in that regard the two sides will hold a new round of high-level dialogue next year. They have also agreed to contribute to regional mechanisms to fight the COVID in other countries in the region.
After the epidemic is over, bilateral personnel exchanges will be fully restored, local exchanges and cooperation will be expanded, mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries will be enhanced, and the public opinion environment of bilateral relations will be optimized. They will also increase cooperation in the area of food and agriculture and climate change. They will also work to prepare events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-Japan ties in 2022.
