Japanese Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a brief, undisclosed conversation on Friday in Suzhou, China [1], [2].
The interaction occurs during a period of strained diplomatic relations between the two nations. Tensions escalated following comments made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan [3], [4].
The meeting took place before a dinner during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event on May 23, 2026 [1], [2]. While the two ministers spoke, Akazawa said there were no formal bilateral talks [5]. This represents the first ministerial-level exchange between the countries since the diplomatic standoff began in November 2025 [6].
Akazawa had previously indicated that such an interaction was expected. He said it would be natural to seek communication with Wang Wentao when both attended an international conference [3].
Despite the meeting, the specific contents of the exchange remain private. Akazawa said the two met briefly, but he cannot disclose the details of the discussion [4].
The brief encounter follows a period of limited high-level engagement. The meeting in Suzhou [2] serves as a tentative point of contact as both nations navigate the current diplomatic row [5].
“There were no formal bilateral talks with China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao”
The brief nature of the encounter and the lack of formal bilateral talks suggest that while both nations are open to maintaining basic communication channels, there is no immediate resolution to the diplomatic friction caused by Prime Minister Takaichi's comments. The meeting functions more as a signal of diplomatic stability than a substantive breakthrough in trade or political relations.
