Top Chinese diplomat asks new Japanese counterpart to take 'good first step' toward engagement with Beijing

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday spoke with his new Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi over the phone and told him that Beijing has noted “positive signals” from Japan’s new Cabinet and hopes Tokyo will take a “good first step” toward constructive engagement with Beijing.

Motegi was appointed as Japan’s new foreign minister last week following the election of Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister.

Wang told Motegi that China and Japan are "important" neighbors, and Beijing's policy toward Tokyo remains "continuous and stable," according to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"Issues related to history and (the) Taiwan question bear on the foundation of bilateral relations and the basic trust between the two sides," Wang said, adding that Beijing is willing to work with Japan to comprehensively advance a strategic relationship of mutual benefit.

Wang hoped that Tokyo would work with Beijing to safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations and to promote the continued improvement and development of said relations in the "right direction."

Motegi, for his part, said China is an important neighbor of Japan, and Takaichi places great importance on Japan-China relations, according to the statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Motegi also told Wang that Tokyo has never intended to decouple or sever supply chains with Beijing and hopes that the two sides will strengthen exchanges at all levels, the statement added.