"Japanese Foreign Minister Considers Meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor"

Discussions Expected on Japanese Elementary Student Assault Death and Resumption of Japanese Seafood Imports

There is a possibility of a meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The foreign ministers of China and Japan met in Laos last July.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Kyodo News on the 22nd (local time), Foreign Minister Kamikawa is reportedly considering a meeting with Minister Wang during her visit to the United States. If the meeting takes place, the agenda is expected to include the incident in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, where an elementary school student was attacked and killed, as well as the recent agreement between the two countries on the gradual resumption of imports of Japanese seafood by the Chinese government.

Regarding the elementary school student’s death, Foreign Minister Kamikawa plans to demand that the Chinese side take measures to prevent recurrence and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China. She also intends to request information on the specific facts and motives behind the crime.

Additionally, she is expected to urge China to promptly lift the ban on seafood imports imposed as a countermeasure against the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (referred to by the Japanese government as "treated water") into the ocean.

Kyodo News also anticipates that issues such as Chinese military aircraft intrusions into Japanese airspace and the release of Japanese nationals detained by Chinese authorities may be discussed.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Tsuge Yoshifumi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, a vice-ministerial level official, will visit Beijing, China, from today until the 24th in relation to the death of the Japanese elementary school student. Vice Minister Tsuge plans to meet with Chinese government officials to request the securing of Japanese nationals’ safety and the investigation of the incident’s truth.