China’s new ambassador to Japan hoping for Xi Jinping visit during cherry blossom season
- Kong Xuanyou told a press conference in Tokyo that Beijing had received a request for the Chinese president to make the trip and talks were underway
China’s new ambassador to Japan said on Friday that fostering cooperation, not competition, was key to the success of China-Japan relations.
Kong Xuanyou told a press conference in Tokyo that he hoped Chinese President Xi Jinping would make an official visit to the country relatively soon, ideally during the cherry blossom season next spring.
The ambassador confirmed that Beijing had received a request from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Xi to visit and said the two governments had already started talks.
While recognising existing issues such as a dispute over the Japan-controlled Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japan, Kong spoke optimistically about the prospects for China-Japan relations.
“If China and Japan work together to support the region’s economic development as well as its peace and stability, the region will surely unite and make great progress,” he said.
