At the Great Hall of the People Sunday afternoon Chinese
President Hu Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe shortly after the visiting leader had held talks with
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
"Your ongoing visit is serving as a turning point in the
China-Japan relations and I hope it will also serve as a new
starting point for the improvement and development of bilateral
ties," Hu told Abe. He congratulated Abe on taking office as prime
minister.
Hu spoke highly of Abe selecting China as the destination of his
first official overseas trip. He said it indicated that Abe
attached significant importance to the improvement and development
of relations between the two countries.
Sino-Japanese relations soured over former Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni Shrine where 14
Japanese class-A war criminals from World War II are honored among
the country's war dead. China-Japan relations had faced
difficulties because an "individual Japanese leader" persisted in
visiting the Shrine. "This is not what we wish to see," Hu
said.
"Since Mr. Abe took office China and Japan have reached
consensus on overcoming political obstacles affecting bilateral
ties and promoting Sino-Japanese relations which creates conditions
for the improvement and development of bilateral relations," added
Hu.
China-Japan friendly cooperation was not only concerned with the
interests of the two countries but also with peace, stability,
development and the prosperity of Asia and the world at large, said
Hu.
He urged Japan to give correct recognition and proper treatment
of the historical issue and avoid harming the sensitivities of the
people of victimized countries.
Japan should hold firm its one-China policy and handle the
Taiwan issue appropriately so as to constantly consolidate the
political basis for bilateral relations, Hu said.
The Chinese president suggested the two countries expand
exchanges in trade, investment and technology, increase cooperation
in energy, environmental protection, information technology and
financial sectors.
Hu proposed the expansion of exchanges and cooperation between the
governments, political parties, social organizations and cultural
and youth groups of the two countries. On regional and
international issues Hu advocated stronger coordination and
communications. He said China hoped Japan would continue to move
forward as a peace-loving country and play a constructive role in
regional and international affairs.
Abe, who took office on September 26, said he paid great
attention to bilateral ties and to lift them to a new high to
create a bright future for the two countries and the region was
important. It was a common responsibility for the two sides.
He said Japan attached much importance to Hu's guidelines on
promoting bilateral ties. Japan would make contributions from a
strategic perspective to the improvement and development of these
in the spirit of the three bilateral political documents.
Abe said historically Japan had caused great damage and
suffering for Asian people and it was now their fixed policy to
remain on a path of peaceful development on the basis of the deep
introspection about the past.
This policy wouldn't change, said Abe. The Japanese and he
himself would appropriately handle the historic issue in accordance
with the consensus on overcoming the political obstacles affecting
bilateral relations and promoting the sound and steady growth of
such ties.
Abe said the two economies were interdependent and China's rapid
economic development had helped Japan's economic recovery and
growth. Bilateral cooperation in other fields had continuously
moved forward, he noted.
He also hoped that the two countries would promote contacts at
various levels, enhance mutual trust, expand exchanges in economy,
culture, education and personnel, strengthen communication and
cooperation in regional and international affairs so as to push
bilateral relations to higher levels.
Abe reiterated that Japan would, in accordance with the joint
statement, adhere to a one-China policy and not support "two
Chinas", "one China, one Taiwan" or "Taiwan independence". It
opposed any unilateral change of the status quo across the Taiwan
Straits.
Abe is the first Japanese postwar prime minister to choose China
as the destination of his first official overseas trip. It's also
the first visit to China by a Japanese prime minister in five
years.
China, Japan Issue a Joint Press Communique
Chinese, Japanese PMs Hold Talks
Chinese Top Legislator Meets Abe
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)