EVENTS

Abstract

In 2017, Japan and China celebrated the 45th Anniversary of normalization of their bilateral relations and this year the two countries are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of conclusion of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty. Both the countries signed this treaty in 1978. Quite fortunately, the bilateral relations are improving sharply. In May this year, Premier Li Keqiangof China visited Japan and this month Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to visit China. Japan is expecting that President Xi of China will  make a reciprocal visit and will participates in the G20 Summit in Osaka in June next year.

Before explaining the recent situation of Japan-China relations, the speaker will brief the audience, the process of the development of the bilateral relations during the last 45 years by dividing the period into three parts; (1)1972-around 1990, (2)around 1990-2010, and (3)2010-to present. The speaker will further explain the differences of the present Japan-China relations from the past situations of the bilateral relations, including what the coexistence of No.2 and No.3 economies means. Lastly, the speaker would like to discuss with the Indian audience how to maintain stable relations with our neighbour which is more assertive with the increase of her economic power.

About the Speaker

Amb. Kunio Takahashi is Vice Chairman of the Institute for International Strategy, Japan Research Institute, Ltd. He served as Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 2009–11 and to Nepal in 2011–13. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976 and has served abroad in Japanese embassies in the U.K., Vietnam, and China. Ambassador Takahashi also served as Director-General of the Regional Immigration Bureau (Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo), Ministry of Justice (2004–07) as Director-General of the International Affairs Department, House of Councillors (2007–09). Ambassador Takahashi received his B.A. in law from the University of Tokyo and M.A. in sociology from Harvard University.