Joint Press Announcement on
Strengthening Cooperation between Japan and China toward the Twenty-first Century
(Provisional Translation)
26 November 1998
During the official visit to
Japan by President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China, Japan and China reached
a common view on their strengthening cooperation toward the twenty-first century and
actively developing their partnership of friendship and cooperation for peace and
development, and issue the following press annoucement.
I. Cooperation in Bilateral Relations
Both sides, in order to
strengthen high-level dialogue between the two countries, confirmed that every year a
leader of each country will alternately visit the other country, and that a hot line will
be established between the two Governments.
Both sides, noting that the
bilateral economic relationship has greatly developed based on the principles of mutual
complementarity and of equality and mutual benefit, shared the view that the cooperative
bilateral relationship should continue to expand in such economic areas as trade and
investment.
The Chinese side, noting the
positive role played in China's economic development by Japanese corporations investing in
China, expressed its intention to make efforts to promote further investments in China by
Japanese corporations. The Japanese side welcomed this, and expressed its intention to
make efforts to promote further development of cooperation in the field of investment
between Japan and China.
The Japanese side decided to
provide yen loans of up to 390 billion yen for 28 projects as the "latter
two-year" portion of the Fourth Batch of Yen Loans toward China. The Chinese side
highly appreciated this.
Both sides, recognizing that
expanding cooperation and exchanges toward the twenty-first century in the areas of
scientific and industrial technology is beneficial, shared the view that cooperation
should be strengthened through both governmental and private channels in these areas, and
confirmed that they would support the promotion of research cooperation and technology
transfers between the industrial sectors of the two countries.
Both sides confirmed that they
will actively promote cooperation for economic development in the inland regions of China
by the industrial sectors of both countries through joint efforts by the government and
the private sector. The Japanese side expressed its intention to advance industrial
cooperation in these regions through close coordination between the government and the
private sector. The Chinese side expressed its intention to make active efforts in such
areas as infrastructure development and improvements in the investment environment.
The Japanese side stated that
it is prepared to cooperate for human resource development in such areas as the reform of
state enterprises, the encouragement of small and medium enterprises and the
rationalization of the distribution system in China.The Japanese side stated that it is
prepared to make use of its measures, human resources and experience related to the
encouragement of small and medium enterprises in Japan, and to actively implement a series
of cooperation efforts toward the development of small and medium enterprises in China.
For its part, the Chinese side welcomed this. Both sides will study concrete cooperation.
The Japanese side restated its
intention to actively cooperate in the technical, operational and financial aspects
related to the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.The Chinese side welcomed Japan's
participation in this competition, based on the status of preparation of the
Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway project.
Both sides reaffirmed the
importance of the issue of environmental protection and the achievements reached in this
field through cooperation by the two countries thus far, and shared the view that they
will further enhance cooperation in this field based on "The Japan-China Joint
Announcement on Environmental Cooperation toward the Twenty-first Century".
Both sides, recognizing the
importance of energy issues in the twenty-first century, shared the view that they will
further promote cooperation in such areas as the promotion of energy-related
infrastructure development including power plants, the energy conservation policy and
measures, and the development and use of clean energy. Both Governments will support the
promotion of joint researches on energy and its related fields by the industrial sectors
and academic institutions of both countries.
Both sides will continue to
strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector, in particular in the area of technology
for the sustainable development of agriculture.
Both sides, recognizing the
importance of measures to prevent flood damage and to recover from flood disasters, shared
the view that they should study concrete ways and contents of cooperation at an early
date.
In this connection, both sides
shared the view that they would study and promote, at an early date, concrete contents of
cooperation, both by the government and the private sector, in such areas as afforestation
and forest conservation.
Both sides,fully understanding
and positively evaluating the important role played by youth exchanges between Japan and
China in the mutual understanding and the development of the bilateral relationship,
recognized that the signing of "The Cooperative Plan on a Framework between the
Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China for Further
Development in Youth Exchanges" is beneficial for ceaseless deepening and development
of such exchanges. Both sides shared the view that they will make efforts to realize
mutual visits and exchanges of youth, who will total as large as 15,000 from 1999 to 2003.
Both sides believe that
strengthening exchanges in the intellectual areas has a positive meaning in increasing the
quality and scope of exchanges between the two countries. Both Governments will assist and
cooperate for such activities in the private sector.
Both sides, recognizing that
cultural exchanges play an important role in deepening mutual understanding between the
peoples of both countries, shared the view that they will further promote such exchanges.
Both sides consider to hold in China "The 1999 Japan-China Culture and Friendship
Year" , and plan to hold in Japan "The 1999Chinese Acclaimed Film Festival
Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Japan-China Cultural Agreement and the 50th
Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China".
The Japanese side, with a view
to expanding the exchange of people between Japan and China, expressed its readiness to
initiate receiving Chinese sight-seeing tour groups, and the Chinese side welcomed this.
Both sides positively evaluate
the recent progress in bilateral security dialogue and cooperation in multilateral fora
such as the ASEAN Regional Forum. They confirmed their intention to gradually expand
exchanges in this area, including mutual visits by the Japanese Director-General of the
Defense Agency and the Chinese Minister of National Defense and to continue coordination
on mutual visits by naval vessels.
The Japanese side restated its
intention that, in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, it will sincerely deal
with the issue of Japan's abandoned chemical weapons in China and destroy such abandoned
chemical weapons by taking practical measures in a responsible manner at the earliest
possible date. The Chinese side stated that it will provide appropriate cooperation in
accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Both sides welcomed the fact
that in August 1998, Japan and China started consultations on the issues related to the
law of the sea, such as the delimitation of the exclusive economic zones and the
continental shelves, and they shared the view that the next consultation should be held
early next year.
Both sides shared the view
that, the Japan-China Fisheries Agreement , whose aims are the establishment of a new
fisheries order between the two countries,based on the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, the conservation and rational utilization of marine living resources of
common concern, and the maintenance of a proper order of maritime fishing operations ,
should be put into effect as soon as possible, so that both sides will be engaged in
orderly fishing operations based on the Agreement.
Both sides, as responsible
fishing nations, shared the view that they will cooperate with each other in the
international fora of fisheries activities.
Both sides shared the view
that preservation of the Silk Road cultural heritages on the Eurasian continent is
important as part of the protection of the common heritage of mankind. Both sides
confirmed that they will cooperate for the preservation of the heritages and implement
concrete preservation projects.
Both sides shared the view
that promoting the development of next-generation information and telecommunications
technology will have a tremendous impact on the socioeconomic development of both
countries. Both sides confirmed that they will strengthen cooperation in information and
telecommunications sectors such as applications of the multimedia information technology,
and that they will jointly research and develop a model project of an information system.
Both sides confirmed that they
will continue to promote cooperation to protect the Japanese crested ibis, which exists in
few numbers and is in danger of extinction. For this purpose, as a token of friendship
between Japan and China, the Chinese side presented Japan with a pair of ibis, and the
Japanese side expressed its gratitude.
II. Cooperation in International Areas
Both sides shared the view
that reform of the United Nations is essential in order that the UN is to play an even
more effective role in the coming century. Both sides confirmed that they will strengthen
consultations for the realization of the UN reform, including the reform of the Security
Council, the financial reform and the reform in the area of development.
Both sides shared the view
that they will strengthen coordination and cooperation on regional issues and play an
active role for the regional peace and stability. Both sides are of the view that
maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is extremely important for the
peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, and support positive efforts made by all
parties concerned in this regard.
Both sides confirmed the
universality of human rights and shared the view that each country should enhance common
understanding and reduce differences through mutual exchanges. The two countries
positively evaluated the Japan-China human rights dialogue, and will continue to exchange
views on the issue of human rights based on equality and mutual respect.
Both sides, as states parties
to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention and the
Chemical Weapons Convention, confirmed that they will continue to abide by their
obligations under these treaties and make efforts for the prevention of the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles, and for related international
cooperation.
Both sides reaffirmed the
importance of the multilateral trading system. The Chinese side reiterated that it will
continue to make efforts toward early accession to the World Trade Organization. The
Japanese side expressed its intention to continue to extend support and cooperation toward
this end.
Both sides confirmed that the
high-level consultations on East Asian economic issues held in September 1998 were
beneficial, and shared the view that similar consultations will be carried out as the
necessity arises.
Both sides believe that the
Eurasian Land Bridge Project, which spans from East Asia across Central Asia to Europe,
has a positive significance for the peace and stability of the entire Eurasian continent.
Both sides,with the recognition of the importance of enhancing the transportation and
distribution infrastructure from East Asia to Central Asia, confirmed that they will
promote cooperation in this area.
Both sides confirmed that they
will strengthen cooperation in combatting various kinds of international crimes, including
firearms, alien smuggling, money laundering, financial and economic crimes and high-tech
crimes, and that they will intensify consultations and personnel exchanges between the
relevant organizations as the necessity arises.
Both sides confirmed that they
will continue to cooperate in crackdowns on drugs crimes, actively participate in
international cooperation to ban drugs, and play an active role in the area of banning
drugs.
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