MFA PREPARING FOR PM WEN'S VISIT TO TOKYO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001627

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PREL JA CH
SUBJECT: MFA PREPARING FOR PM WEN'S VISIT TO TOKYO

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel
Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) China and Japan hope to clarify and expand on
the nature of their "strategic, mutually supportive
partnership" during Premier Wen's planned mid-April
visit to Tokyo, Asia Department DDG Qiu Guohong told
Polmincouns March 12. Premier Wen's visit will be the
first visit to Japan by a Chinese leader in seven
years. China's thinking is that a successful visit by
Premier Wen will pave the way for a visit by PM Abe to
Beijing later this year and then, perhaps next spring,
a visit by President Hu to Japan. The Chinese and
Japanese sides are both profoundly aware that a less
than successful visit by Premier Wen would be worse
than no visit at all, Qiu said. Polmincouns noted
that the United States Government strongly supports
efforts by China and Japan to improve their bilateral
relationship.


2. (C) The formal reason for Wen's visit will be to
participate in the opening ceremonies for the China-
Japan Year of Exchange in Culture and Sport, Qiu said.
In fact, this year is particularly significant because
of the momentum it could bring to bilateral relations
and because it marks the 70th anniversary of the
Nanjing Massacre. Proper handling of history issues,
including the comfort women issue, remains China's
top-priority bilateral issue, he said. China is also
increasingly concerned about Japan's relationship with
Taiwan, he said, and will want Tokyo to repeat
standard formulations about respect for one-China in
the joint statement to be issued during Premier Wen's
visit.


3. (C) Japanese officials want economic issues and the
East China Sea dispute over territory and resources to
figure prominently in Premier Wen's visit, Qiu said.
China feels the existing mechanism for handling
disputes in the East China Sea is working well.
Common interests have already been established and
China has agreed to resume Director General-level
consultations on the issue. Concerning the economy,
China is not likely to agree to a Japanese request for
a multi-ministerial meeting comparable to the United
States' Senior Economic Dialogue, but can consider
some higher-level discussion, Qiu said.
RANDT