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)