Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura in Beijing on Sunday that China wants Japan to take "concrete actions" to face up to and examine its history of invasion.

Li stressed that the Chinese government and people consider the development of friendly and cooperative relations with Japan very important.

In line with the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future" and the three main treaties that form the basis of the bilateral relationship, China hopes the two countries can coexist peacefully, maintain long-term friendship, cooperate on a mutually beneficial basis and seek common development, Li said.

"That will serve the long-term interests of the two countries as well as world peace, stability and development," he said.

China's position is that a correct view of history is a precondition for developing China-Japan relations. The country is urging Japan to examine the realities of its wartime history and avoid "doing things that would harm the feelings of the Chinese people."

Machimura said the Japanese government will adhere to the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future" and develop Japan-China friendship with a view toward the overall situation.

Japan is ready to work with China for the improvement and development of bilateral ties, he said.

Machimura said that Japan feels deep regret and once again expresses deep remorse and apology for its wartime invasion of China.

Japan will draw profound lessons from history and will remain on a path of peaceful development, he said.

Li told Machimura that the Taiwan issue involves China's "core interest" and relates to the feeling of 1.3 billion Chinese people.

Adherence to the one-China principle is at the foundation of China's diplomacy. Li "strongly requested" that Japan honor its commitment to that principle and not do anything detrimental to China's sovereignty.

Machimura reiterated Japan's adherence to the one-China policy.

Both ministers agreed their countries would work together to safeguard world peace and stability, not pose any threat to the other and resolve disputes through dialogue.

Li solemnly demanded the Japanese government take effective measures for guaranteeing the safety of Chinese institutions and citizens in Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2005)