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.