2025年10月31日，在韓國慶州舉行的亞太經合組織（APEC）領導人非正式會議期間，中國國家主席習近平應約會見日本新任首相高市早苗（Takaichi Sanae）。這是高市早苗自就任日本首相以來首次與中國高層舉行正式會晤，標誌著中日兩國在經歷數年緊張與摩擦後，出現新一輪對話契機。

這次會晤的背景頗具象徵意義。高市早苗在競選自民黨總裁期間，曾多次公開表示希望以「建設性對話」的方式處理對華關係，強調日本不能與中國「完全對立」。上任後，她的內閣釋放出相對積極的外交信號，尤其在經貿合作與區域安全議題上，展現出一定的靈活度。據多家媒體報導，會晤當天氣氛較為友好，兩位領導人在正式談話前於會場短暫寒暄，並在合影時相互致意，高市早苗全程保持微笑，顯示出禮節性尊重與緩和姿態。

在正式會談中，習近平明確闡述中方對中日關係的五點主張。他指出，中日兩國是亞洲重要鄰國，應在四個政治文件基礎上（即1972年《中日聯合聲明》、1978年《中日和平友好條約》、1998年《中日聯合宣言》與2008年《中日聯合聲明》）恪守原則，維護雙邊關係的政治基礎。他提出五項具體建議：
第一，恪守既有共識，防止雙方關係回到對抗局面；
第二，深化經濟與科技合作，共同維護產業鏈供應鏈穩定；
第三，促進人文與青年交流，增進國民理解與互信；
第四，在多邊與區域機制下加強協作，包括亞太經濟整合與氣候變遷合作；
第五，妥善管控分歧，防止問題政治化與安全化。

高市早苗則在會上回應稱，日中兩國同為亞太地區的重要國家，對區域和平與繁榮承擔共同責任。她表示日本願在「戰略互惠關係」框架下推動兩國合作，特別是在貿易、綠色能源及區域穩定方面尋求進一步交流。針對中國最關切的台灣問題，高市早苗重申日本將繼續遵守1972年《中日聯合聲明》中關於「一個中國」的立場，並不支持「台獨」。

不過，會晤中仍不乏敏感議題與潛在摩擦。日方在談話中就釣魚島（日本稱尖閣諸島）主權爭議以及中國對關鍵技術出口的限制問題表達「關切」，希望中方在地區安全與貿易政策上採取「更透明的態度」。中方則明確指出，台灣問題是中日關係的政治基礎與紅線，要求日方在歷史與領土問題上謹言慎行，避免採取任何干擾中方核心利益的行為。

儘管雙方仍存在結構性矛盾與戰略不信任，這場會晤仍被視為日本新政府對華政策的積極開端。在美日同盟持續深化與國際地緣政治競爭升溫的背景下，高市早苗選擇與北京展開直接對話，被外界解讀為一種「試探性緩和」——既維持與美國的安全合作，又嘗試修補與中國的經貿關係。

未來中日關係的走向仍取決於東京能否在政治與戰略層面保持務實態度。若日方能在敏感議題上克制行動、避免觸碰中方底線，兩國或有機會在區域合作與經濟互利中找到新的平衡點。然而，若右翼勢力在日本國內進一步抬頭、或美日同盟在亞太議題上對中形成更強牽制，雙邊關係的改善仍將面臨嚴峻挑戰。

總體而言，這次習近平與高市早苗的首次會晤不僅是一場外交禮節性接觸，更象徵著中日關係在競爭與合作之間尋求新定位的開始。這一互動為兩國未來重啟高層溝通提供了契機，也為亞太地區的穩定注入一絲謹慎而脆弱的希望。

On October 31, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Gyeongju, South Korea, during the APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting. This marked Takaichi’s first formal high-level meeting with the Chinese leadership since taking office.

The meeting background and atmosphere were notably positive. During her election campaign, Takaichi had expressed willingness to engage with China, and after assuming office, her cabinet signaled a proactive diplomatic stance toward Beijing. Before the formal meeting, the two leaders had exchanged greetings during APEC sessions, and their in-person interaction was cordial. Takaichi appeared relaxed and smiling throughout the discussion, reflecting mutual respect and diplomatic courtesy.

During the meeting, both sides articulated their core positions.
President Xi emphasized that China and Japan should adhere to the principles outlined in the four political documents that form the foundation of bilateral relations, safeguard the political basis of their ties, and promote a “strategic relationship of mutual benefit.” Xi proposed five key initiatives: reaffirming mutual consensus, deepening economic cooperation, promoting people-to-people exchanges, strengthening multilateral collaboration, and managing differences prudently.

Prime Minister Takaichi responded by stating that Japan and China share a joint responsibility for peace and prosperity in the region. She expressed Japan’s willingness to advance a mutually beneficial strategic partnership and reaffirmed Tokyo’s adherence to the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Communiqué regarding the Taiwan issue.

However, differences and challenges persisted. Japan raised concerns over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute and export control policies, while China firmly reiterated that Taiwan remains a “red line” and urged Japan to act cautiously on sensitive issues involving history and territorial claims.

In significance and outlook, the meeting is widely seen as a positive opening gesture in Japan’s new administration’s approach to China. Yet, prospects for substantial improvement remain uncertain due to the rise of Japanese right-wing forces and the constraints of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The future trajectory of bilateral relations will largely depend on Tokyo’s ability to adopt a pragmatic stance and avoid crossing Beijing’s fundamental red lines.