Japan-China Summit Meeting (Outline) (Confidential)

Confidential

Indefinite Duration

Japan-China Summit Meeting (Outline) (Confidential)

August 11, 1991

China Division

Following is an outline of the Japan-China summit meeting (and the reception hosted by Premier Li Peng) that took place in Beijing in the afternoon of August 10.

1. Bilateral Relations Between Japan and China

(1) China’s Flood Damage

Prime Minister Kaifu expressed his sympathies and said that His Majesty the Emperor had also sent a sympathy telegram. The Prime Minister also stated that, in addition to 500,000 dollars already decided on, that Japan had decided on additional assistance of 1.5 million dollars. Premier Li Peng thanked him and said that the flood damage would not affect political stability and would not bring about any great change in the development of the economy.

(2) Overall Evaluation of Bilateral Relations

Prime Minister Kaifu said that the stable development of relations between Japan and China was important not only for the two countries but for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific and, in turn, the world. He hoped that China’s efforts for reform and opening would be broadly understand by the international community. Positively handling in China’s own way the issues of democracy and human rights would further add weight to China’s position. Premier Li Peng said: The Japan-China Joint Communiqué and the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China were policy documents that guided Japan and China. They are meaningful in their incorporation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Although relations between Japan and China have regressed somewhat since 1989, we highly appreciate the efforts of the Japanese government to improve relations between Japan and China and to promote the removal of the measures of the Western countries against China. Prime Minister Kaifu and other Japanese politicians are the most aware of the importance of relations between Japan and China. We should advance economic and political reform together, but social stability must not be affected by that. China, too, is interested in democracy and human rights. However, speaking of democracy, it should be appropriate to China’s national circumstances. In regard to human rights, too, we are prepared to discuss them with the international community, but they must be consistent with China’s constitution.

(3) Twentieth Anniversary of the Normalization of Relations Between Japan and China

Prime Minister Kaifu, who mentioned the visits of leading figures on both sides and the strengthening of youth exchanges, invited Chinese leading figures to visit Japan. He stated that he was prepared to cooperate in the preservation of China’s cultural heritage. Premier Li Peng said that educating the young generation in Japan and China about the tradition of friendship between Japan and China was important. Regarding the mutual visits of leading figures, he said that he would like to coordinate on it via the diplomatic route.

(4) Visit of the Emperor to China

Premier Li Peng said that the Government of China sincerely hoped that His Majesty the Emperor would visit China next year for the twentieth anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Kaifu said that he would like to continue considering it in keeping in mind the points of which Premier Li Peng spoke.

(5) Taiwan Issue

Premier Li Peng said: Japan and China have a common understanding concerning Taiwan in accordance with the Japan-China Joint Communiqué and the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China. There is no problem with how the Japanese government handles the issue, but at times unfavorable things arise in relations between Japan and China. I would like the Japanese government to take care. Prime Minister Kaifu said that the Japan-China Joint Communiqué [TN: the rest of this section is missing, without any redaction blackout.]

(6) [TN: The beginning of this section is missing, without any redaction blackout.]

[Prime Minister Kaifu] said [TN: rest of sentence missing]. Premier Li Peng said that relations between Japan and China were good and that he would like to continue strengthening them.

(7) Economic Cooperation

Prime Minister Kaifu gave an explanation regarding the “Four Guiding Principles.” It was officially announced that 129.6 billion yen would be provided for 22 projects as the fiscal year 1991 portion of the Third Yen Loan. Premier Li Peng highly appreciated that decision. In regard to the “Four Guiding Principles,” he said that China’s military spending was certainly not a large amount and that China considered and carefully handled arms exports in taking into consideration three conditions, namely: (a) The exports were for the strengthening of self-defense; (b) They had no political conditions attached to them; and (c) They did not destroy the regional balance.

2. The International Situation

(1) The New International Order

Premier Li Peng said that the new international order was not something for one country to control. He also said: (a) Security will be something for which each country will be able to take responsibility. (b) Politics are inseparable from economics. The new order should be formed according to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Particularly important is non-interference in domestic affairs. (c) He laid out three principles in saying that the United Nations should play a greater role. Prime Minister Kaifu said that the international community was moving in the direction of increasing multipolarity and that the role of the United Nations would grow increasingly large. He also explained the five points of his administrative policy speech, namely: (1) the guaranteeing of peace and security; (2) respect for freedom and democracy; (3) the ensuring of global prosperity in an open market economy; (4) the guaranteeing of an environment in which people can live like human beings; and (5) the establishing of stable international relations based on dialogue and cooperation. Furthermore, Japan intends to cooperate for peace in a policy of alignment with the United Nations. There seems to be concern that Japan will turn into a military power, but such a concern is inconceivable. The Japanese people, feeling deep remorse towards the past, have sworn never again to wage war. There is no need for worry on this this point.

(2) Arms Control

(a) Prime Minister Kaifu requested China’s accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Premier Li Peng stated that China had decided in principle to accede to the NPT.

(b) Prime Minister Kaifu stated that he would like to have China’s agreement on a United Nations reporting system for the transfer of conventional arms. Premier Li Peng stated that he appreciated the Japanese government’s motivation and agreed to consult with Japan but in the process wished to examine its feasibility.

(3) The Korean Peninsula

Premier Li Peng said that he would like the improvement of relations between Japan and North Korea to be more active. He said that he would like Japan to consider North Korea’s proposal for a nuclear-free zone. Prime Minister Kaifu said that it was necessary for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards to be adopted unconditionally. In regard to the concept of a nuclear-free zone, it was necessary to see the responses of South Korea and other relevant countries. In general, in regions with appropriate conditions, if people in those regions call for it, then the concept would contribute to the system of nuclear non-proliferation.

(4) The Cambodia Issue

Prime Minister Kaifu highly appreciated China’s role to date. He stated his continued support for His Highness Sihanouk and the Supreme National Council (SNC) and his desire that Japan and China cooperate in this area. Premier Li Peng stated that encouraging developments had recently been seen in Cambodia and that he wished to promote this drive. He said that he wished to work for a settlement while cooperating with the international community.

(4) [TN: repeated number] Mongolia

Prime Minister Kaifu stated that hoped for cooperation in the area of transportation in Mongolia. Premier Li Peng said that China had already concluded with Mongolia an agreement for the use of Chinese ports. He stated that the improvement of relations between China and Mongolia was part of its improvement of relations with neighboring countries and that China was making progress.

(5) Hong Kong

Prime Minister Kaifu said that it was important to maintain Hong Kong’s prosperity even after 1997 in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law. He stated that he sincerely welcomed the agreement between China and Britain on the issue of building a new airport. Premier Li Peng stated that he hoped to continue Hong Kong’s economic prosperity.

(6) The Environment and Energy

Prime Minister Kaifu said that the success of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June next year would be very important. He stated that issues of development and the environment were emerging in China as well and that he would like to cooperate in the future in a concrete way. Premier Li Peng stated that China also attached importance to this issue and that he wished to cooperate with Japan and all countries on it.

(End)