Beijing, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 13th round of China-Japan high-level consultation on maritime affairs was held via video on Dec. 20. The consultation was co-chaired by Hong Liang, Director general of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Kenyu Funaetsu, Director general of the Asian and Oceanian Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the China Sea Police, and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, Fisheries Agency, Resources and Energy Agency, Coast Guard, Environment Ministry and Defense Ministry respectively participated in the consultation.

The two sides held a plenary meeting and three working group meetings on maritime defense, maritime law enforcement and security and Marine economy, exchanging in-depth views on maritime issues between the two countries and promoting bilateral practical cooperation in the maritime field. The two sides agreed to focus on building China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era, fully implement the important consensus and the four-point principled agreement reached during the recent phone call between the two leaders, properly manage maritime disputes and differences, promote pragmatic exchanges, increase exchanges and interactions among maritime personnel, earnestly safeguard maritime security and stability, and make the East China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.

The Chinese side reiterated its solemn position on the Diaoyu Islands and other issues and urged the Japanese side to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and stop taking actions that complicate the situation. China expressed dissatisfaction with Japan's negative actions affecting maritime and air security in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and lodged representations with Japan over its wrong words and deeds on the Taiwan Strait issue. China stressed its firm opposition to the intervention of external forces in the Taiwan Strait and urged Japan to be cautious in words and actions so as to avoid affecting regional peace and stability.

The two sides reached the following consensus on specific cooperation:

First, fully recognize the positive progress made in verifying the direct telephone connection of the maritime and air liaison mechanism of the defense departments, and confirm that they will sign relevant technical agreements and strive to realize the early opening of the line. The two sides agreed to continue their defense exchanges. Second, the China Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard will continue to cooperate in combating maritime crimes and exchanging law enforcement personnel, and support exchanges between the China Coast Guard Academy and the Japan Coast Security University.

Third, the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center and the Japan Coast Guard continue to carry out joint maritime search and rescue exercises under the framework of the China-Japan Maritime Search and Rescue Agreement, further strengthen cooperation between local window units, and jointly safeguard maritime navigation safety.

Fourth, they made positive comments on the outcomes of exchanges on Marine environmental protection and agreed to use the upcoming 3rd China-Japan Marine Garbage Expert Dialogue Platform and China-Japan Academic Seminar on Marine Garbage to promote cooperation on Marine plastic garbage.

Fifth, continue to cooperate on combating illegal fishing and conservation of fishery resources in the North Pacific. They agreed to explore solutions to existing problems in the fishery field through negotiation and consultation, and fully implement the Fishery Agreement.

Sixth, strengthen personnel exchanges between maritime departments of the two sides to enhance mutual trust.

The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in Marine scientific research and technical exchanges in developing the blue economy. China once again expressed concern over and opposition to Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, and urged the Japanese side to prudently handle the issue of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

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