China's top diplomat Wang Yi met with Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), on Wednesday in Beijing.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, expressed great appreciation for Kono's long-term commitment to the China-Japan friendship and stressed the significance of people-to-people exchanges in the current international situation.
Wang said that China has attached importance to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's recent statement that Japan should draw profound lessons from history and refrain from being an aggressive country.
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Wang noted that history cannot be tampered with, and that only by learning from history can both sides truly open up the future.
Kono said that history should not be forgotten, nor should it be denied, and noted that the past cannot be changed but the future can be created through present efforts.
JAPIT is willing to continue promoting friendly cooperation between Japan and China, Kono said.
Path of peace
China hopes that Japan will deeply reflect on its historical crimes, earnestly learn from the past and adhere to the path of peaceful development, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a query regarding a recent statement by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who said that Japan must reflect on its history, remember historical lessons, and avoid repeating the mistakes of war.
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"China attaches great importance to this position," Lin said.
Lin noted that during the meeting between the leaders of China and Japan in Lima, Peru, in November 2024, Ishiba expressed that the Japanese side will uphold the spirit of facing history squarely and looking to the future, and adhere to the path of peaceful development.
"This time Prime Minister Ishiba has further stated that Japan must reflect on history, remember its lessons, and avoid repeating the mistakes of war. China attaches great importance to this statement," Lin added.
Adopting a correct attitude toward history and demonstrating remorse and apologizing for the war of aggression have been key prerequisites for Japan's post-war reintegration into the international community, Lin said, noting that these issues concern not only the political foundation of China-Japan relations, but also Japan's ties with its neighbors and its international image.
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"We urge Japan to completely sever ties with any attempts to whitewash or obscure its history of aggression on a responsible stance toward history, its people and the future, remain committed to peaceful development, and take concrete actions to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community," Lin said.
Meanwhile, Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, met with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, special envoy of the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China, in Beijing on Wednesday.
Wang said that China-UAE ties have maintained sound development momentum under the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state.
China is willing to work with the UAE to provide mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, maintain close coordination on international and regional affairs, and promote the in-depth development of the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said.
Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said the UAE is willing to strengthen its high-level exchanges with China and further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
The UAE adheres to the one-China principle and will uphold the principles of independence and autonomy in steadfastly promoting cooperation with China, he said.
