China and Japan yesterday vowed to increase diplomatic dialogue
and defensive cooperation aside from continuing economic dialogue
and mutual support for peaceful development.
Yesterday, a press statement was issued following Premier Wen Jiabao's meeting with Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe which provided an in-depth look at the next
stage of the mutually beneficial relationship between China and
Japan.
The document, carrying more weight than its predecessor issued
in October during Abe's ice-breaking visit to Beijing, covers a
wider range of issues in a bid to take the bilateral ties to a new
stage.
In terms of defense, both sides agreed to host fleet exchanges
at an early date and to boost communication between their
respective defense bodies. Furthermore, the Chinese defense
minister will pay a visit to Japan in autumn.
The two countries renewed their common commitment to peace and
stability across Asia and the world. The respective foreign
ministries will maintain close cooperation in global issues of
common concern to stimulate bilateral strategic and economic
partnerships.?
Given Japan's desire to assist China in helping African
countries, consultations will be deepened in this area.
Turning to Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security
Council, China expressed its desire to see Japan play a bigger
constructive role in international affairs and will continue to
negotiate with Japan to look for common ground in terms of UN
reform.
Both countries fully stand by the landmark agreement signed in
February about North Korea's nuclear program and China fully
sympathizes with Japan over the kidnapping issue, and stands ready
to help.
Mutual collaboration between the neighbors will also branch out
to cover many sectors, ranging from energy, the environment,
agriculture, medical research and IPR to finance, the judiciary and
communication technology.
Joint clean-up programs will be begun on the Bohai Bay and
Yangtze River areas to curb air and sea pollution and to prevent
acid rain and sandstorms. From these will stem model projects
aiming to create energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly
business models.
Turning to agriculture, China has waived a ban preventing rice
imports from Japan, and both countries will move to further
agricultural trade.
The two sides announced their hopes for negotiations to start
before the end of the year over a treaty that would establish
parameters for legal cooperation and lead to consultations for an
extradition treaty.
Also, bilateral financial collaboration will be ramped up, along
with personnel exchanges.
2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of
diplomatic ties between the two countries and to commemorate this
fact, around 20,000 Japanese citizens will tour 19 Chinese cities
this year.
The two leaders also signed agreements on energy and the
environment outside the sphere of the joint statement.
The first accord called for both countries to lead the charge
for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol by 2013. Its twin will lead
both nations to work together in using energy resource efficiently
and in building more nuclear power stations in China.?
During their talks, Wen reiterated that the history issue must
be handled well if it is to be overcome since it is close to the
hearts and minds of the Chinese people.
He urged the Japanese leadership to face up to history and "open
up good, forward-looking relations towards a beautiful future."
Wen also outlined China's position on the Taiwan question, and
hoped that Japan could properly address it by paying full attention
to the issue's particular sensitivity.?
For his part, Abe said Japan stood fully behind the three joint
documents directing bilateral relations.
On disputed waters in the East China Sea, the two countries will
accelerate negotiations to find a mutually-acceptable solution as
they move towards making it "a sea of peace, cooperation and
friendship."
(China Daily April 12, 2007)
