Nikkei Asian Review reported that Wang Qishan used to coordinate the Sino-U.S. economic relationship since he has many Wall Street contacts. However, after President Trump took office, his influence on Sino-U.S relations seems to have been reduced.
Instead, he has been tasked with improving the Sino-Japan relationship.
Wang visited Japan on October 22 and 23, attending Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony and meeting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On December 6 at Zhongnanhai, he also met with the Head of Japan’s National Security Council, Shigeru Kitamura, to discuss Xi Jinping’s visit to Japan in 2020.
Beijing has made Xi’s visit to Japan, planned for April 2020, the number one priority, as its relationship with the U.S. has becomes iffy.
The Sino-Japan relationship stalled in 2012, when Japan “nationalized” the Senkaku Islands, over which both China and Japan claim sovereignty.
Since April 2019, Wan Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, Liu Kun, Finance Minister, and Zhong Shan, Commerce Minister, have all visited Japan. A 25-member military delegation also visited Japan in April.
Nikkei Asian Review said that Wang directed these series of visits.
Li Keqiang also visited Japan in May. It was the first time in eight years that China’s Premier visited Japan.
Source: Epoch Times, December 14, 2019
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/19/12/13/n11721514.htm