After Shinzo Abe, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP), was elected prime minister in a parliamentary vote
earlier yesterday, the Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the new
Japanese leadership would work to improve frayed bilateral
relations.
"We hope the new Japanese leader can make positive efforts to
improve and develop Sino-Japanese relations," ministry spokesman
Qin Gang told a regular news briefing in Beijing.
As the youngest Prime Minister since World War II, Abe, 52,
announced a 17-member cabinet yesterday with outspoken Foreign
Minister Taro Aso, 66, who shares many of Abe's conservative views,
keeping his portfolio.
Qin said China hopes Abe will "match words with deeds over the
issue of placing importance on Asian diplomacy." Qin also repeated
China's opposition to prime ministerial visits to the Yasukuni
Shrine in Tokyo, which, among others, honors 14 class-A WWII war
criminals.
In the run-up to the election, Abe had made improving
Sino-Japanese relations a priority, an encouraging step with
relations between the two Asian powers at the worst in decades.
This is primarily due to Abe's predecessor Junichiro Koizumi's
repeated visits to the shrine, seen by China and some other Asian
nations as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
"China's position on the issue of Yasukuni Shrine is consistent
and clear," Qin said.
China has refused to hold summit meetings with Japanese leaders
until official visits to the shrine cease.
"On the question of the timing and conditions for a meeting
between the leaders of China and Japan, we have repeatedly
clarified our position," Qin said.
Sub-cabinet level talks continued yesterday in Tokyo, led by
Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and his Japanese counterpart
Shotaro Yachi. Although precise details have been kept quiet,
speculation has been rife that the talks are to pave the way for a
summit between the leaders of the two countries. Qin said the talks
would continue as long as needed.
Addressing a question on the stalled six-party talks aimed at
denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, Qin said China supports and
encourages the US and North Korea to hold direct bilateral
talks.
"We hope they, as the major responsible parties, can resolve the
relevant issues through negotiations with flexible and pragmatic
attitudes," Qin said, adding that "China will continue to make
constructive efforts and we hope the concerned parties make
constructive efforts, too."
He said China and South Korea are preparing for a visit to Seoul
by Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei to encourage the resumption of
the talks. The talks, involving China, the US, Russia, Japan, South
and North Korea, stalled after the first phase of the fifth round
of talks ended last November.
(China Daily September 27, 2006)