Xi agrees in principle to pay state visit to Japan next spring

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Osaka, Japan, June 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

OSAKA, Japan, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached here on Thursday a 10-point consensus to jointly promote the healthy development of bilateral relations, according to a senior Chinese diplomat.

The consensus was reached during a meeting between Xi and Abe ahead of a summit of the Group of 20 major economies slated for Friday and Saturday in the Japanese city of Osaka, Wu Jianghao, director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry told reporters.

China and Japan have enjoyed a generally good momentum in the development of bilateral relations, Wu said, adding that there are also divergences between the two countries.

Both leaders agreed that China and Japan should focus on consensus while managing differences, said Wu.

Among the consensus, Xi and Abe spoke highly of the sound momentum in the development of China-Japan relations and agreed that as both countries have entered a new era of development, joint efforts are needed to build bilateral relations that meet the requirements of the new era.

While the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the two leaders saw fresh opportunities for developing bilateral relations as mutual interests and common concerns between the two countries are increasing day by day.

They also agreed to maintain close communication, strengthen high-level guidance and keep increasing political mutual trust.

Abe, on behalf of the Japanese government, invited Xi to pay a state visit to Japan in the spring next year. Xi agreed in principle to the invitation. The two leaders have instructed their respective foreign affairs departments to maintain communication on the timing of the state visit.

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