China expects a visit from the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe around October 23 in celebration of their 40th bilateral peace and friendship treaty. Abe is reported to advocate better cyber and space defense capabilities.
It was reported thatJapan has conveyed China through diplomatic channels that Abe should be retained in his position in the Liberal Democratic Party's Election in September.
There are reports are circulating that the diplomat will visit China around October 23. He is expected to convene with Chinese president Xi Jinping during his visit. This is reported to be the first trip of a prime minister to China since 2011, apart from international conventions. The last Japanese Minister to visit China was Prime Minister Yoshida Noda in 2011.
Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba on a statement on Wednesday stated that he has made arrangements with Chinese officials for Abe's visit. He stated that it is possibly scheduled for October. The visit might have high possibility because of the improved relationship between the two nations. He stated that he had a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng in Beijing about the visit. He, however, did not assure the certainty of Abe's trip.
In previous years China and Japan were in a territorial conflict in connection with the Senkaku Islands. The island is claimed by China and it was Diaoyu in China. The conflict only ended after Japan placed the islands under state control in 2012. The visit is expected to improve the two nations relationship as positive reflections towards the signing of their 40th friendship treaty intensifies.
On Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Minister blocked a reporter of The Sankei Shinbun from covering news about the meeting between Wang and Akiba. The news network is known to be a constant Chinese critic Japanese newspaper.
The Japanese media based in China responded by canceling the media coverage of the meeting while expressing ill will towards the ministry's decision.
It was already reported that China has plans on meeting Japan and South Korea on a trilateral summit in December in Beijing. The plan guarantees that Abe will be received in China on his planned official visit to China.
It was reported that Abe already had a plan to visit China after his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang while a trilateral summit with South Korea is in progress in Tokyo. He plans to make the trip as soon as possible.
