China demands Japan to take prompt and effective measures to stop issuing textbooks which denies and beautifies its history of aggression, so as to safeguard Sino-Japanese relations.
"Japan should be true in word and resolute in deed," said Zhu Bangzao, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, in Thursday's regular press conference.
Zhu said that the issue of a Japanese history textbook is a political and principled issue of great importance, and it concerns the feelings of people who were the victims and is related to Japan's stance and attitude towards its history of aggression.
Chinese government and people have closely watched the recent pulse in Japan on the issue of its' history book, he noted.
"It should be pointed out that Japanese right-wing groups make all efforts to concoct a history textbook with the purpose of advocating so called 'empire history sense' by denying and beautifying its history of aggression," Zhu said.
He added that although small amendments have been made in the text books, they are still absurd and ridiculous.
China, through all kinds of channels, has expressed its solemn stance and concern for the issue and urged the Japanese government to properly settle it with a responsible attitude, he said.
Japan has also vowed to observe the related principles stipulated in China-Japan Joint Declaration and the talks of Japanese former Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi on historical issues, he noted.
Moreover, Chinese and Japanese governments have reached common ground last year on developing Sino-Japanese relations according to what they've learned from history and are now facing the future, Zhu added.
(Xinhua 02/23/2001)
