China hopes the Democratic Party of Japan would make positive
contributions to promoting Sino-Japanese relations, Chinese State
Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan said on Sunday.
At a meeting here with a Japanese delegation headed by Seiji
Maehara, leader of the Democratic Party, Japan's largest opposition
party, Tang spoke highly of the party's correct understanding of
history and its efforts to develop cooperation between China and
Japan.
Tang also described China's opinions on current Sino-Japanese
ties. He said the development of Sino-Japanese relations concerns
the "fundamental interests" of both countries and peoples, and also
has an impact on peace, stability, development and cooperation of
the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
Facing the current difficulties in bilateral relations, Tang
said, political parties and statesmen of the two countries should
make positive efforts to maintain the overall situation of friendly
cooperation between China and Japan in line with the spirit of
being "highly responsible" for history, the future and the
people.
Maehara, the 43-year-old newly elected party leader, said his
party sticks to the policy for Japan-China friendship and supports
China's peaceful development.
He has urged Japanese leaders to stop visiting the Yasukuni
Shrine, which honors, among others, convicted class-A World War II
criminals.
Maehara also voiced his hope that the Japanese leaders would
abide by relevant understandings reached by the two governments and
adhere to the spirit of "Murayama Statement," which was made by
former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on Aug. 15, 1995
to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the World War II.
In that statement, Murayama made a clear apology for Japanese
crimes before and during the war and expressed deep remorse over
the tremendous damage and suffering his country brought to the
people of many countries, particularly to the Asian nations.
"To overcome the difficulties of the current Japan-China ties,
the Democratic Party of Japan is ready to conduct dialogue with the
Chinese, continue to increase mutual understanding and promote the
healthy development of bilateral ties," Maehara said.
The Japanese delegation is visiting China at the invitation of
the Communist Party of China.
(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2005)