On February 21, 2023, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Shigeo Yamada held the 29th regular consultation between the diplomatic authorities of China and Japan in Tokyo. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-Japan relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern.

Sun Weidong briefed the Japanese side on the main decisions and historic significance of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and expounded on the features of Chinese modernization and China's domestic and foreign policies. Sun Weidong said that in the face of the complex and fluid international and regional situations, the importance of China-Japan relations has remained unchanged and will not change. The two sides should follow the guidance of the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two countries on building a China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era, take the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship this year as an opportunity to safeguard the foundation of relations and enhance mutual trust, and act in strictly compliance with the principles enshrined in the four political documents between China and Japan. The two sides should have clear mutual understanding, properly define bilateral relations, and adhere to the overarching direction of peace, friendship and cooperation; the two sides should follow the trend of the times, pursue win-win cooperation, and keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded; the two sides should think in big-picture terms, properly handle differences, and put disputes and differences in an appropriate position in bilateral relations and manage them in a constructive manner, so as to ensure that China-Japan relations will not stagnate, deviate off the course or backpedal, and will continue to develop steadily along the right track.

Sun Weidong emphasized that historical issues, the Taiwan question and other major issues bear on the basic trust between the two countries and the foundation of China-Japan relations. He hopes that Japan will learn from the past, stick to the path of peaceful development and stay committed to the one-China principle. The discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea concerns the global marine environment and public health, and Japan should dispose of the contaminated water in an open, transparent, science-based and safe manner.

Shigeo Yamada said that the consultation was candid, in-depth and of positive significance. Japan always attaches great importance to Japan-China relations, and stands ready to work with China to implement the important common understandings the leaders of the two countries have reached on building a stable and constructive Japan-China relationship by enhancing dialogue and communication, properly managing disputes and differences, and jointly committing to the stability and development of bilateral relations. The two sides should jointly shoulder the responsibility and promote peace and prosperity of the region and the world at large.