Chinese premier considers visiting Japan

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that he will consider paying an official visit to Japan while attending the China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting in the first half of this year.

"There have been signs of improving relations and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has invited me to visit Japan on several occasions," Li told the press following the conclusion of the annual session of China's top legislature.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, vice premiers Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan, Hu Chunhua and Liu He attend a press conference after the conclusion of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 20, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

"We may now have a spring in China-Japan relations, but we also need to watch out for any possible return of chills," Li added.

China expects Japan to contribute more to the sustained and steady development of bilateral relations, according to the premier.

"The improvement of bilateral relations requires not just the right atmosphere. It also calls for commitment and vision," he said.

Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Li called on both sides to honor the spirit and consensus of all the four bilateral political agreements.

The premier added that, while the exchange of visits at the leadership level helps to get the relationship back on track, consolidating the foundation for bilateral relations matters more.

"We should not aim at making any one-time deal," he said.