China and Japan agreed yesterday to conduct joint historical
research, a move expected to reduce future disputes on historical
issues.
The announcement was made after a meeting between Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Japanese counterpart Taro
Aso on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) meeting.
Historical disputes, especially concerning Japanese invasions of
Asian countries including China during World War II, have regularly
derailed the advancement of bilateral relations.
The joint research will be conducted according to the principles
of the three political documents signed by both countries,
including the China-Japan Joint Statement, and in line with the
spirit of "facing the future," the Chinese Foreign Ministry
said.
The purpose is to "deepen the objective understanding of history
and increase mutual understanding."
The joint research will cover over 2,000 years of communication,
modern history, and the development of bilateral relations in the
60 years since the end of WWII.
A total of 20 scholars, 10 from each side, will establish a
special committee to conduct the research, and two groups will be
in charge of ancient and modern history respectively.
The Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences and Japan's Institute of International Affairs will be
responsible for the research, and they will hold conferences in
rotation. The first conference will be held this year with scholars
scheduled to publish joint research results in 2008, when the two
countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the China-Japan
Peace and Friendship Treaty.
Relations soured after former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14
class-A convicted WWII war criminals along with the country's war
dead, after taking office in 2001.
Some politicians refuse to admit the atrocities committed by
Japanese troops during WWII, causing the ire and anguish of Asian
peoples.
During their meeting, Li said that new Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe's visit to China last month had put bilateral ties back
on track and the two sides should treasure such results.
He hoped that both sides could work together to "deal with
sensitive issues between the two countries" and not let them
interfere in the development of bilateral ties.
Li said that the question of Taiwan must be handled
appropriately. Aso said that there is no change in the Japanese
government's policy on Taiwan and will deal with the question
according to the principles of the bilateral political
documents.
Trade ministers, foreign ministers and representatives from the
APEC member economies wrapped up their two-day gathering yesterday,
agreeing to continue WTO negotiations and to facilitate regional
trade.
During the meeting, the delegates spent a lot of time discussing
the need to resume the stalled Doha Round of WTO negotiations.
They endorsed the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan
roadmap for realization of the Bogor goals of free and open trade
and investment in the region, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister, Pham Gia Khiem, told a press conference after the
meeting.
A joint statement issued after the meeting said the delegates
reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen multilateral trading, and
recommended APEC economic leaders issue a stand-alone statement on
the Doha Development Agenda reaffirming APEC's resolve to resume
the negotiations process without delay.
(China Daily November 17, 2006)
