Building stable relations with China but still "having to say what needs to be said"

New Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said that Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's government is moving towards a consistent policy towards China.

Tân Ngoại trưởng Nhật Bản cam kết xây dựng quan hệ ổn định với Trung Quốc

New Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. (Source: AP)

On September 14, new Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said it was important to maintain frank dialogue with China to improve the tense relationship between the two Asian powers.

In her first press conference as foreign minister, Ms. Kamikawa pledged to build a “constructive and stable” relationship with Beijing as a “consistent policy” of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s government .

“Japan and China are facing many challenges and issues of concern, but it is important for Japan to say what needs to be said, call on China to act responsibly, engage in dialogue and work together to address common challenges,” she said.

Ms. Kamikawa takes over as Japan's foreign minister at a crucial time when Japan-China relations are strained due to disagreements over the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean , starting on August 24.

The two countries also disagree over issues in the East China Sea and China's increased joint military activities with Russia near Japan amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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