Japan's new ambassador seeks better China ties

Japan's new ambassador to China Masato Kitera holds a news conference at Japan's Embassy in Beijing on Dec 25. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

Tokyo's new ambassador to China on Monday expressed his country's desire to boost economic links as a way to thaw cooling ties amid tension over the Diaoyu Islands.

Observers said Japan worries about becoming further marginalized if it completely quits China's huge market, and Japan should realize that trade will not improve if the country makes no major progress in resolving the territorial standoff.

Masato Kitera, a career diplomat who will succeed Uichiro Niwa as Japan's ambassador to China, told Japan's NHK Television on Monday that his "number one mission is to improve the Japan-China relationship".

The China-Japan ties were soured in September after the Japanese government illegally "purchased" part of the Diaoyu Islands.

"I will explain to China's senior officials we need to make economic ties warmer if our political relationship is cooling, as Japanese corporate activity in China is contributing to the Chinese economy," he said.

"It is important to boost exchanges in various fields so as to ease bitter public sentiment against each other," said Kitera, who will take office in Beijing on Tuesday.

His comments come after Japan's incoming prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on Saturday also pledged to seek a thaw in ties with China. A news report said he will send a special envoy on a fence-mending mission to Beijing, Reuters said.

Zhou Yongsheng, an expert on Japanese studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said the sluggish Japanese economy will receive a new stimulus on the condition that China-Japan ties are warmed and Japan further taps into China's market.

"Japan has shown concern about its growing economic dependence on China. However, if Japan refuses to deepen reciprocal economic integration, it will be gradually marginalized in the East Asia regional economy," Zhou said.

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Diaoyu Island Dispute