Abe calls for closer ties with Beijing ahead of China visit

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to “deepen the exchanges” between Japan and China across “all levels of activities, from business cooperation to sports,” ahead of talks with President Xi Jinping tomorrow (Thursday).

Abe called for closer ties between the two powers ahead of a three-day visit in which he will also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, ABC reports. The situation on the Korean peninsula and tensions over the South China Sea are expected to be discussed, as is the US-China trade war.

Abe made the remarks during a major speech in the Diet in which he outlined a notable policy shift for Japan. After years of restricting foreign access to Japan’s labour market, Tokyo will create a new residence status to make it easier for more “work ready” foreigners to enter the country, Nikkei Asian Review reports. Abe said the government plans to accept “foreign personnel who have a certain level of expertise and thus are work-ready,” in a bid to deal with the country’s severe labour shortages.

Such a move is perhaps characteristic for Abe, whose leadership is becoming increasingly defined by reform – from his efforts to review Japan’s pacifist constitution to overcoming the country’s economic challenges. Trade with China will certainly feature in Abe’s strategy. According to The Diplomat, some 500 Japanese business leaders will accompany Abe on this week’s visit – “an implication that a raft of trade deals will be signed between the two sides.”

Global Times, the Chinese state-backed media outlet, highlighted Abe’s positive comments on bilateral trade between China and Japan, which “has reached around 300 billion U.S. dollars,” citing Abe as saying “China’s economic development is a huge opportunity and shall be welcomed by both Japan and the world.”