A Japanese medical team arrived in Qiqihar Saturday to assist
Chinese victims suffering from a recent accidental leak of mustard
gas from chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese troops in northeast
China's Heilongjiang
Province.
The medical team led by Kawakami Fumihiro, an official from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited the No. 203 Hospital
of the People's Liberation Army Saturday afternoon and exchanged
views with Chinese experts on the Chinese victims.
Kawakami Fumihiro said the Japanese government has admitted that
the accident on August 4 was caused by the chemical weapons
abandoned by the Japanese army during World War II.
He offered an apology and showed sympathy for the Chinese
victims on behalf of the Japanese government.
Japan is ready to make joint efforts with China to deal with the
accident, he said, stressing that treating the victims is the most
important task at present.
Japan sent the best Japanese medical experts to China, hoping to
assist the Chinese side, he added.
The Japanese medical team consists of seven members, including
three medical doctors, two officials from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Japan, one researcher and one interpreter, sources
said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2003)