Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi met with Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing on Sept. 7. They agreed to promote interactions between the Japanese and Chinese ruling parties.

Song noted that “the CPC is determined to develop the Japan-China relationship by further promoting our interactions with Komeito.” Yamaguchi replied by saying that “I would like to welcome the continued negotiations on bilateral interactions and we are looking forward to working with the Chinese side to realize the eighth round of talks within the year.” The Liaison Department oversees China’s foreign policy inside the CPC.

Yamaguchi later visited Tianjin and met with Li Hongzong, secretary of the Tianjin municipal committee of the CPC and a member of the CPC Politburo.