China and Japan will launch an economic partnership consultation
mechanism within the year and resume the diplomatic consultation
mechanism, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and visiting
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi agreed in Beijing
Sunday.
The other four points of the six-point consensus reached by the two
foreign ministers were: the two sides will jointly organize a
"friendly environment week" in October of this year; China will
invite 100 Japanese youngsters to visit China annually from the
year 2004 to 2008; the two sides will continue their human rights
dialogue; and Japan agrees to accelerate the process of the
destruction of chemical weapons left by Japanese troops in China
during World War II.
Tang said Kawaguchi's current visit to China, which began Sunday,
is of great significance on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of
the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties. The great progress of
relations over the past 30 years has not only brought important
benefits to the two peoples but has also promoted regional peace,
stability and development.
Tang said the development of bilateral relations has generated
important inspirations and experience for the two sides.
Firstly, the two sides should insist on the Sino-Japanese
friendship no matter what happens. Secondly, the two sides should
maintain and strictly abide by the principles and spirit stipulated
in the three China-Japan political documents, namely, the
Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship
between China and Japan and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration.
Thirdly, the two sides should continue to expand economic
cooperation and trade. Fourthly, the two sides should promote
friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
China and Japan are both in a historical period of reform and
development. The importance of Sino-Japanese relations is crucial
in the context of the constantly-evolving international and
regional situation, said Tang.
China greatly values its relations with Japan and is willing to
work with Japan towards better bilateral relations according to the
guidelines of "drawing on historical lessons and looking forward to
the future" and the aforementioned three political documents, Tang
said.
The Chinese foreign minister suggested that both sides should
recognize the development and changes of the other side in an
objective and comprehensive manner, explore new fields of
cooperation and appropriately handle conflicts between the two
countries, especially the issues of history and Taiwan.
On
the issue of history, Tang said, it is a serious, disturbing factor
for Sino-Japanese relations. If not handled well, it will have in
the long run a negative impact on the normal development of
relations as well as on Japan's international image, and will be
detrimental to Japan's fundamental interests and long-term
development.
"We hope that Japan will truly show courage and sincerity, and
honor its commitments and the consensus reached between our two
sides with concrete actions, so that China-Japan relations can
overcome and surmount these obstacles," Tang said.
Kawaguchi said she agrees with Tang's comments. She said Japan will
take "drawing on historical lessons and looking forward to the
future" as the core idea for Japan-China relations. Japan will be
committed to further efforts for the peace- and
development-oriented friendly cooperative partnership between Japan
and China.
She said Japan hopes to increase personnel exchange through
different channels so that the two countries will maintain
friendship for a long period of time. She suggested more dialogue
between the governments of the two countries in order to discover
and settle potential problems quickly.
The Japanese foreign minister said the Japanese Government's stance
on the issue of history, expounded by former Prime Minister
Murayama Tomiichi in 1995 and the Japan-China Joint Declaration,
has remained unchanged.
She said Japan was deeply regretful and wailful for the damage and
pain it caused to Asian people. Japan will persist in its no-war
policy and dedicate itself to developing friendly and cooperative
relations with neighboring
(Xinhua News
Agency September 8, 2002)