Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has set his sights on visiting China this weekend, in an effort to right foundering ties, as Tokyo presses for the release of a Japanese national detained by Beijing over alleged espionage activities.
If the plan comes to fruition, this would be the first visit to China by a top Japanese diplomat in more than three years after the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic ¡ª and Beijing¡¯s harsh response ¡ª halted diplomatic activities.
The two-day visit, which reportedly could begin Saturday, will be Hayashi¡¯s first meeting with new Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang since Qin was named top diplomat in December, after serving earlier as his country¡¯s ambassador to the United States. Qin is said to have invited Hayashi to Beijing during phone talks last month.
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