TOKYO, Oct 5 – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called China an “important neighbor” in a policy speech on Monday despite ongoing bilateral tensions and said Japan aims to build “constructive and stable” relations with Beijing.
At the opening of the 69-day extraordinary Diet session, Takaichi stressed that Tokyo would “say what must be said and strongly urge responsible actions.”
Diplomatic relations between the Asian economic giants have been at rock bottom since Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo may intervene in any attack on the island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
The policy speech comes after China’s top diplomat said last week ties with Tokyo were “waiting to be normalised again” as he met a former Japanese foreign minister who was leading a trade delegation in Beijing.
China had last year warned its citizens against travel to Japan, and imposed trade restrictions that have reportedly led to big drops in supplies of vital rare earth minerals to Japanese firms.
