Japan and China put aside their conflicts and dispute to battle the novel coronavirus. (Image via EJ Insight)

China, Japan cooperate to tackle COVID-19

On Friday, Japan and China agreed to join arms in battling the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), putting aside the historic and territorial dispute. COVID-19, originating from Wuhan, Hubei Province, Central China, killed almost 2,800 in China alone while having spread to more than 50 countries outside China.

Meeting in Tokyo, Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, met with China’s Senior Diplomat, Yang Jiechi. Abe said that despite the differences between the two countries, Japan and China are both having a difficult time dealing with COVID-19.

Japan had evacuated more than 800 nationals and their relatives from Hubei Province with chartered flights in cooperation with the Chinese government. Japan also offered reliefs for China in the chartered planes. Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, thanked China for cooperating in the repatriation of the nationals.

Meanwhile, Japan and China are having friction due to the islets in the East China Sea, Japan’s wartime and regional rivalry legacy. Yang stated that thanks to the COVID-19 battle, Japan – China’s relations will improve, as the Middle Kingdom wants to eradicate the virus with the Land of the Rising Sun.

Moreover, Yang and Motegi said that there was no change in the plan to host a state visit for the President of China, Xi Jinping.

Source: https://bit.ly/3cnRl55