China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Takeshi Iwaya, a former Japanese foreign minister leading a 50-member business delegation, in Beijing on Monday. This marked the highest-level Chinese reception for a Japanese delegation in almost a year. During the meeting, Wang Yi cautioned that relations between the two countries remain strained and have “yet to be normalised”, especially considering the approaching 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The Chinese minister reportedly warned against downplaying or distorting wartime history. The meeting occurred amidst ongoing sensitivities surrounding Japan’s role during World War II, a frequent point of contention between the nations. Despite the diplomatic concerns, the visit suggests continued economic engagement between China and Japan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement detailing the points discussed during the talks.