Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing Sunday and said the two countries
should keep friendly for generations to come.
"We should start from the overall situation of China-Japan
relations and follow the world trend and the will of the people,
and remain firm in keeping a friendly relationship for generations
to come," Wen said.
Wen appreciated Abe's positive attitude toward China-Japan
relations, saying that as China and Japan have reached a consensus
on overcoming political obstacles affecting bilateral ties and on
promoting the sound and healthy development of Sino-Japanese
relations, the prime minister's visit to China was realized and a
"window of hope" has been opened.
Wen said China-Japan relationship faced both new opportunities
of development and lots of challenges as well.
While China-Japan relations have been basically "good" following
the normalization of bilateral ties, they soured over former
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's persistent visits to
the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Japanese class-A war criminals of
World War II are honored among the country's war dead, Wen
note.
Wen stressed that to achieve the long-term stable and healthy
development of China-Japan relations, the shrine issue must be
properly handled and the political obstacles affecting bilateral
ties must be removed in line with the consensus reached between the
two nations.
"Promises must be kept and action must be resolute," Wen said,
noting that that is an important guarantee for pushing forward
China-Japan relations.
The construction of China-Japan relationship should be based on
the three political documents signed by the two countries and
conducted in the spirit of "taking the history as a mirror and
looking into the future", said Wen.
Wen made a five-point proposal on developing future bilateral
relations:
Firstly, the two should materialize and maintain mutual visits
by the leaders of the two countries, enhance communication and
exchange at multiple levels and enhance mutual political trust;
Secondly, the two should continue strategic dialogue, take care
of each other's concerns, and conduct in-depth research on
significant issues concerning the improvement and advancement of
bilateral relations;
Thirdly, the two should improve the economic and technological
cooperation mechanism, work out mid-to-long term plan for bilateral
cooperation in various fields and strive for a greater development
of economic and trade relations;
Fourthly, the two should conduct cultural and educational
exchanges, expand non-governmental exchanges and deepen the
friendship between the two peoples, and
Fifthly, the two should strengthen consultation on regional
issues, promote regional cooperation in East Asia and contribute to
the peace and development of Asia as a whole.
As to the Taiwan question, Wen said Japan should keep its
promise of sticking to the one-China policy and of supporting
China's peaceful reunification.
Wen also reiterated that China adheres to the peaceful road of
development. It was not an expedient measure, but an inevitable
choice based on China's historical and cultural tradition, China's
needs for development and the world trend.
China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and
transparent defensive policy of national defense, and is devoted to
building a harmonious world, Wen said.
China's development would not pose a threat to anybody, and
China opposes hegemony and would not pursue hegemony, the premier
said.
Wen expressed appreciation for Japan to draw lessons after the
war and to take the road of peaceful development, hoping that Japan
would continue its way along the direction of peaceful
development.
Abe said that Japan sees its relationship with China one of the
most important bilateral relations.
He said his country would continue to follow the principles and
the spirit set forth in the three Sino-Japanese political
documents.
Abe admitted that regretful things have happened amid the
continuous increase of bilateral trade volume, exchange of cultural
activities and personnel.
Abe said the Japan-China relationship is currently in a critical
stage, adding that it's a common mission and responsibility for the
two countries to make constructive contribution to the peace,
stability and prosperity of Asia and the world at large.
To achieve that, Japan and China should build a reciprocal
relationship that is based on common strategic interests, Abe
noted.
Abe said he believes the future of Japan-China relations will
have "no cloud", and he is ready to further the dialogue between
the leaders of the two countries.
The prime minister said Japan had brought severe damages and
pains to peoples of Asian countries. He made a deep introspection
of the past, and stressed that that stance would not change in
future.
Japan does not glorify militarism or Class-A war criminals, Abe
said, noting that he would properly solve the history issue in line
with the consensus of both nations to overcome the political
obstacles and improve the bilateral relations.
Japan and China are economically interdependent, he said. The
bilateral political and economic relations should, like two wheels,
move forward powerfully, so as to lift the Japan-China ties into a
new high.
Abe said Japan would handle the Taiwan issue according to the
Sino-Japanese Joint Statement. Japan sticks to one-China policy and
does not support "Taiwan Independence."
The talks will be followed by Abe's meetings with President Hu
Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo later Sunday.
Abe, who took office on September 26 and arrived in Beijing on
Sunday, is the first Japanese postwar prime minister who chose
China as the destination of his first official overseas trip.
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)