Spokesman: Four-point agreement crucial for improving China-Japan relations - Xinhua

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The four-point agreement between China and Japan is an important condition for improving relations between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said Friday.

In response to Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida's Thursday comment that the agreement is not legally binding but should be respected "as a result of negotiations between Japan and China," Hong said the four-point agreement must be truly observed so that China-Japan relations can be gradually improved.

China and Japan reached a four-point agreement to improve bilateral ties when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, met on Nov. 7, agreeing to resume political, diplomatic and security dialogues while acknowledging different positions on the Diaoyu Islands.

China has since urged Japan to treat the agreement seriously and to earnestly follow and implement it.

China-Japan relations suffered a setback after the Japanese government "nationalized" the disputed Diaoyu Islands and backtracked on recognizing wartime atrocities the country committed in the past.

BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan on Friday reached a four-point agreement to improve bilateral ties, agreeing to resume political, diplomatic and security dialogue while acknowledging different positions on the Diaoyu Islands.

The agreement was reached as State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with visiting National Security Advisor of Japan Shotaro Yachi, China's Foreign Ministry announced in a press release. Full story

Japan urged to show sincerity in cooperation with China, ROK

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan should show sincerity and make concrete efforts for trilateral cooperation with China and the Republic of Korea (ROK), a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

"China attaches importance to tripartite cooperation," spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing. "We are in close communication with the ROK and relevant side." Full story