China, Japan Pivot To New Markets

Shinzo Abe says bilateral relations are moving to a new stage of cooperation from competition

- Atul Aneja

Faced with the threat of a trade war with the U.S., China and Japan have decided to work together to develop new overseas markets, by focussing on collaboration instead of competing with each other.

“Turning to co-operation from competition, the relationship between the two nations is entering a new stage,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Friday.

Prime Minister Li endorsed how ties between the two countries had pivoted from full blown rivalry to growing partnership, especially over the last two years.

Mr. Li spotlighted that “we (China and Japan) are cooperation partners to each other and not a threat, and we support each other for peaceful development”.

In his brief remarks, the Japanese Prime Minister said joint forays in third countries would now be one of the new templates of Tokyo­-Beijing ties.