Japan-China friendship groups announced in Beijing
Monday that a foundation had been established with one million yen
(US$10,000) to aid victims of chemical weapons abandoned by the
Japanese at the end of World War II.
Kyuhei Muraoda, chairman of the China-Japan Friendship
Association, said the establishment of the foundation is meant to
arouse attention in Japan, encourage the Japanese government to
deal properly with the issue and promote friendship between the two
peoples.
Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for
Friendship with Foreign Countries, said the chemical weapons are
one of the major historical issues between the two nations and one
that seriously threatens people's safety and the environment.
The weapons were proof of the crimes committed by Japanese
militarists, Chen said.
"We hope that Japanese society will pay attention to the issue
and demand that Japan deal with the issue properly," Chen said. "We
are willing to promote friendly, cooperative bilateral relations
for healthy and steady development of friendship with all Japanese
groups."
In another development, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan is
urging Japan to expedite the disposal of chemical weapons abandoned
at the end of the World War II.
While meeting with delegates from seven Japan-China friendship
groups in Beijing Monday, the Chinese official said the abandoned
weapons are one of the important historical issues left facing the
two nations.
He hopes the Japanese side can make more efforts to make good
its promise on this issue and speed up the handling of the
poisonous weapons.
More than two million chemical bombs were abandoned in China by
Japan's retreating armies and over 2,000 Chinese have been injured
by the abandoned weapons.
(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2004)