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China and Japan have agreed to deepen ties and hold high-level talks, including a security dialogue in 2025. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and China’s Foreign Affairs Chief Wang Yi in Beijing on December 25, 2024.

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya, on his first trip to China since assuming office in October, held “very candid” and wide-ranging talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. “I feel we were able to build a personal relationship that would lead to the future,” he said.

The meeting comes at a time when the two nations navigate a complex relationship shaped by economic cooperation, historical sensitivities, and security concerns.

Japan announced that China’s top diplomat agreed to visit Japan next year as part of ongoing efforts to bolster relations. Wang agreed to Iwaya’s proposal for a Japan-China security dialogue. While specific dates for the visit or the security dialogue were not disclosed, both parties emphasized the importance of continued high-level discussions. Iwaya noted the possibility of an economic dialogue during China’s 2025 visit, reflecting a commitment to sustained engagement.

The meeting follows a mutual agreement by leaders from both countries to work toward a “mutually beneficial strategic relationship.”

Japanese Foreign meets Chinese Premier Li Qiang

During a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing on December 25, 2024, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized that China-Japan relations are at a crucial stage of improvement. He expressed China’s commitment to working with Japan to implement key agreements and foster sustainable, healthy bilateral ties. Li stated, “China is willing to work with Japan to promote the sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations, and achieve more new results in pragmatic cooperation.”

Li underscored the enduring importance of the relationship, saying, “China and Japan are close neighbors that cannot be moved away from each other,” and reaffirmed that the two countries should remain cooperative partners. He expressed hope that Japan would work with China, adhere to the principles outlined in the four China-Japan political documents, manage differences constructively, and prioritize the broader picture of bilateral relations.

Li also called for expanded economic and trade relations, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, and stronger people-to-people exchanges.

In response, Iwaya affirmed Japan’s readiness to strengthen ties with China, particularly in areas of cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He noted, “Japan is willing to make joint efforts with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels, especially people-to-people exchanges, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and improve public opinion toward each other, comprehensively advance strategic relations of mutual benefit, and build constructive and stable Japan-China relations.”

Chinese and Japanese officials discuss security concerns

Despite the focus on improving ties, the dialogue also highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two neighbors. Iwaya raised several security-related issues, including concerns over Chinese military activities in the East China Sea and a buoy that Japan believes was installed by China in its exclusive economic zone near one of its southernmost islands.

“I also expressed my serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea…and the increasing activity of the Chinese military,” Iwaya stated. Wang Yi acknowledged the significance of stable China-Japan relations for regional peace, asserting, “If China-Japan relations are stable, Asia will be more stable.”

The ministers also discussed regional security, particularly North Korea’s increasing military cooperation with Russia. Iwaya urged China to play “a responsible role in maintaining peace and security in the international community,” underscoring Japan’s grave concern about North Korea potentially gaining advanced military technology through its alliance with Russia.

China and Japan strengthen ties with 10 key agreements

On December 25, 2024, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya held talks in Beijing, marking a significant step in improving China-Japan relations. The leaders discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation, with both sides agreeing to 10 key initiatives aimed at strengthening exchanges. These included promoting youth and sports exchanges, expanding cooperation in film, music, and media, and fostering people-to-people ties. They also agreed to make the 2025 Osaka Expo a platform for further cultural engagement.

During the meeting in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iwaya emphasized the importance of mutual trust and strategic cooperation. Both countries expressed their desire to maintain a stable and constructive relationship, with a focus on resolving differences pragmatically.

Iwaya’s visit follows the inaugural summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping, held in November in Peru.

Visa policy and tourism cooperation

On a more positive note, the two countries announced reciprocal measures to ease travel restrictions, signaling a desire to strengthen people-to-people ties. Japan will relax requirements for three-year multiple-entry visas for Chinese tourists and extend the stay duration for group visas from 15 days to 30. Additionally, a new 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa has been introduced. “Interactions between citizens, above all, serve as the foundation” for Japan-China ties, Iwaya said.

Earlier this year, China introduced a visa-free travel for Japanese citizens and extended the allowable stay period to 30 days. These moves aim to restore pre-pandemic travel policies and boost tourism.

However, Iwaya stressed the need to address safety concerns for Japanese nationals traveling to China. Some Japanese citizens have faced attacks, including stabbings, and other security threats while traveling in China. He also pointed out cases of detentions under China’s anti-espionage law, urging greater transparency and the release of those detained.

Seafood trade restrictions discussed

Another topic that came under discussion was China’s ban on Japanese seafood exports, prompted by Japan’s release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. While no immediate resolution was reached, both sides committed to implementing a September agreement allowing international monitoring and independent sampling of the treated water. The two sides also agreed to resume talks on Japanese beef and rice exports to China.