Cable No. 25, Ambassador Ogawa to the Foreign Minister, 'Japan-China Foreign Minister Meeting'

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Number (TA) 339

Primary: Asia and China

Sent:  China, January 4, 1974, 20:35

Received: MOFA, January 4, 1974, 21:45

To: The Foreign Minister  
From: Ambassador Ogawa

Japan-China Foreign Minister Meeting

Number 25　Abbreviation Top Urgent

The meeting took place on the 4^th, from 9:15 a.m. until past noon (also in attendance: Matsunaga, Tejima, Kunihiro, Fujii, Sakamoto, Miyamoto; from the Embassy, in addition to the Ambassador, Hayashi, Hashimoto, Ohara; from the Chinese side, Vice Minister Han Nianlong, Asian Affairs Department Director Lu, Asian Affairs Department Deputy Director  Wang et al.).

1. First, the Minister, touching on the problems of Vietnam and North Korea, as well as the visits of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union, explained Japan's relations with the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union, ending with an explanation of Japan's position on the Middle East problem, including the oil problem.

2. Foreign Minister Ji declared in response to the above: "China's consistent judgment of the situation is that the world is heading not toward détente but toward a time of upheaval, the trend of which has become even clearer with the oil problem, the origin of which is the trouble in the Middle East."  

3. There was also commentary on China's thinking regarding such issues as Soviet diplomacy, the North Korea problem, and the Middle East problem.

4. Next, [illegible] discussion of issues between Japan and China, the Minister [illegible] expressed his hope for the early conclusion of agreements in maritime transport and fisheries. Concerning the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship as well, he proposed, circumstances permitting, discussing it at a very non-official working level. In addition, he revealed to the Chinese side the idea of developing the practice of frequently exchanging opinions at the level of multiple cabinet members and the foreign ministers. (Touching on the trade agreement, he added that he hoped for discussion concerning such future problems as trading company employees entering and leaving China, residence there, and industrial property rights.) Finally, concerning the aviation agreement, he summarized to the other side to the clearest extent possible our position on it.  

(End)