The Japanese foreign minister will be in Beijing for two days beginning today to discuss various issues, including the detention of an employee of Astellas Pharma Inc.
Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that he would meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang during the visit to have an open and candid conversation aimed at establishing a stable and productive partnership.
As part of a coordinated effort with the United States to limit China’s ability to produce advanced chips, Japan has recently announced plans to restrict exports of 23 different types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, prompting this visit.
A spokesperson for Astellas Pharma said this week that a Japanese employee had been detained in China for unknown reasons, further complicating relations between the two countries. The Japanese government reportedly requested the man’s release from Chinese authorities.
Hayashi’s visit to China comes after the two nations’ presidents met in November for the first time in nearly three years.
