Chinese President Hu Jintao met separately with Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee on Saturday.
Hu
Jintao told Junichiro Koizumi on that Chinese and Japanese leaders
should seize the historical opportunity to develop long-term
stable, good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations between
the two countries.
Hu
said in his meeting with Koizumi that to develop Chinese-Japanese
relations in the new century, the two sides must bear in mind the
history and lessons and cherish its achievements, which did not
come easily.
Both sides should adhere to the joint statements and the Treaty of
Peace and Friendship signed by the two countries, Hu said.
While expanding areas of common interests, the two sides also need
to properly address each other's concerns, said the Chinese
president.
Chinese and Japanese leaders need to look at bilateral ties from a
strategic and long-term perspective, Hu said.
Koizumi said Japan fully recognizes the importance of
Japanese-Chinese relations and hopes to constantly develop the
ties.
China's rapid growth does not pose a threat to Japan or the rest of
Asia, but rather an opportunity. The two countries should
strengthen cooperation and make joint contributions to the
development and prosperity in Asia, the Japanese prime minister
said.
The new leadership of China attaches great importance to
Sino-Indian relations and would develop further cooperation with
India, said Hu in a separate meeting with Indian Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday.
China looks forward to strengthening cooperation with India in all
fields and pushing the constructive partnership of cooperation to a
new level, said Hu.
On
the border issue, Hu said the two countries should proceed from the
friendship between two countries and properly handle it, following
the principles of consultations on equal footing, and mutual
understanding and accommodation.
He
invited Vajpayee to visit China.
Vajpayee said he was happy to see the healthy development of
India-China relations in recent years. He pledged to join hands
with the Chinese side to maintain and further thrust the momentum
of the development of bilateral ties.
On
the border issue, Vajpayee expressed the hope that a fair solution
acceptable to both sides could be found through negotiations.
He
said he was looking forward to visiting China.
Hu, Koizumi and Vajpayee were in St. Petersburg, Russia for
celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the city.
(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2003)