Prime Minister Fumio Kishida asked senior Chinese Communist Party official Liu Jianchao on Wednesday morning that Beijing lift its import ban on Japanese fishing products.
Kishida met with Liu, head of the international department of the party’s Central Committee, at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo. China introduced the blanket ban last year in response to continued emissions of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Kishida said Japan hopes to accelerate mutually beneficial cooperation through discussions on issues and concerns based on the mutually beneficial strategic relationship.
Liu responded that he wants to contribute to expanding the dialogue.
The Chinese official, believed to be close to leader Xi Jinping, also met with Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, with the pair agreeing to work on mutual visits by their country’s top diplomats.
Later on Wednesday, Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Natsuo Yamaguchi, who heads Komeito, the LDP’s coalition partner in the ruling bloc, each met with Liu.
Kishida emphasized that these types of political interactions are crucial for the development of Sino-Japanese relations.
