The leader of the Democratic Party of Japan Banri Kaieda is scheduled to visit Tsinghua University, where he will outline the DPJ’s stance on improving relations with China.
Relations between China and Japan soured following the Japanese government’s purchase of the Diaoyu Islands in September 2012. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit last year to the controversial Yasukuni shrine also further strained relations. On Wednesday, Kaieda met a senior leader of the CPC, Liu Yunshan and the head of the China-Japan Friendship Association, Tang Jiaxuan. Liu urged Japan to learn from history and seek a peaceful path.
Liu also said the CPC would like to work with the DPJ and other political parties in Japan to increase exchanges and cooperation, enhance political trust and mend China-Japan ties. Banri Kaieda said the DPJ would like to seek candid dialogue, and remove obstacles between the two countries. It is the first time Kaieda has visited China after becoming the leader of Japan’s opposition party in late 2012. He said he hoped the visit could become the first step to improving relations between the two countries.
