Xi Jinping meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Kono.

On the afternoon of October 31st local time, President Xi Jinping of China met with Japanese Prime Minister Katsunobu Kato in Gyeongju, South Korea during the 32nd APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Japan are close neighbors and important to each other. Promoting the long-term healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations is in line with the expectations of the people of both countries and the international community. China is willing to work with Japan to maintain the political foundation of bilateral relations and promote strategic mutually beneficial relations in accordance with the principles and directions established in the four political documents between China and Japan. China is committed to building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era. Xi Jinping emphasized that there are both opportunities and challenges in China-Japan relations at present. He hoped that the new Japanese cabinet would have a correct understanding of China, cherish the efforts and contributions of the older generation of politicians and people from all walks of life in both countries to the development of China-Japan relations, and adhere to the overall direction of peace, friendship, and cooperation between China and Japan. First, adhere to important consensus. Implement political consensus such as "comprehensively promote strategic mutually beneficial relations","partners in cooperation, not threats to each other", and "learn from history for the future". Adhere to and fulfill the clear provisions made in the four political documents between China and Japan on major issues such as history and Taiwan to ensure the foundation of China-Japan relations remains solid and stable. The spirit of the "Murayama Statement" deeply reflects on Japan's history of aggression and apologizes to the victim countries, a spirit worth promoting. Second, adhere to win-win cooperation. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China outlined the "15th Five-Year Plan" for China's development. China-Japan cooperation has broad space. China and Japan can strengthen cooperation in high-end manufacturing, digital economy, green development, fiscal and financial cooperation, medical care, elderly care, and third-party market, jointly safeguard the stability and smooth operation of the multilateral trading system and supply chain. Third, promote people-to-people connectivity. Continue to carry out communications between governments, political parties, legislatures, deepen and expand cultural and local exchanges, and improve national sentiments. Fourth, strengthen multilateral cooperation. Adhere to the principles of good neighborliness, friendship, equality, mutual benefit, and non-interference in internal affairs, practice true multilateralism, and promote the construction of an Asia-Pacific community. Fifth, properly manage differences. Keeping in mind the overall situation, seeking common ground while reserving differences, converging similarities while accommodating differences, and avoiding defining bilateral relations based on contradictions and differences. Katsunobu Kato stated that China is an important neighbor of Japan, and both Japan and China bear significant responsibilities for regional and global peace and prosperity. Japan is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, enhance communication, deepen understanding, promote cooperation, solidly promote the strategic mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries, and build a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship. On the Taiwan issue, Japan will adhere to the position outlined in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement. Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and others were in attendance.