[Gyeongju APEC] "Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Arranging First Summit with President Xi on the 31st"

The Chinese and Japanese governments are expected to hold the first summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the occasion of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be held in Gyeongju.

Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan. Yonhap News Agency

Kyodo News reported on the 29th, citing government officials, that arrangements are underway to hold the first summit between President Xi and Prime Minister Takaichi on the 31st.

If the meeting takes place, it will be the first summit between President Xi and Prime Minister Takaichi, who took office on the 21st.

President Xi is scheduled to make a state visit to South Korea from October 30 for three days and two nights, while Prime Minister Takaichi will also visit South Korea on the same day and return to Japan on November 1.

Earlier, on the 28th, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi by phone, stating, "China has taken note of several positive signals sent by Japan's new cabinet, and high-level exchanges are of great significance for the development of China-Japan relations." He added, "We hope the new cabinet will take a good 'first step' in exchanges with China and fasten the 'first button' properly."