On August 7, 2017 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with newly-appointed Foreign Minister Taro Kono of Japan on the sideline of the series of Foreign Ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation in Manila, the Philippines.

Wang Yi said that China and Japan are close neighbors separated only by a narrow strip of water. Long-term confrontation between both countries harms the interests of both sides, and also goes against regional peace and stability. In recent years, China-Japan relations have encountered obstacles, which roots in whether Japan is sincerely willing to see China as a cooperation partner and to accept China's development and growth. It is hoped that Japan could suit its action to the word, putting its positive expression to improve relations with China into concrete policies and actions, instead of making troubles for China after expressing readiness for better relations. Wang Yi expressed that your father Yohei Kono was a statesman with conscience in history and independent personality who devoted himself wholeheartedly to promoting friendship between China and Japan for years. It is hoped that Taro Kono could inherit the correct ideology of his father and make endeavors to truly improve bilateral relations during his tenure.

Taro Kono expressed that Japan attaches importance to China. Shoulder to shoulder, Japan and China could make significance contributions to Asia's rejuvenation and world peace. As this year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, the Japanese side hopes the two countries could enhance exchanges, resume dialogue, boost mutual understanding and constantly improve relations. Taro Kono himself is willing to make sincere efforts to this end.

Wang Yi thoroughly expounded China's stance on the South China Sea issue, urging Japan to respect the fact that the situation in the South China Sea has been stabilizing and improving, and respect the efforts made by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in this regard. He called on Japan to play a more constructive role in regional peace and stability, instead of following other countries' lead to stir up troubles.