Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met on Friday with a
Japanese trans-party delegation led by Congressman Suzuki Tuneo,
urging the two countries to promote bilateral ties following
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China last month.
Tang emphasized that China-Japan relations are "developing",
noting that the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting in
Vietnam had generated consensus on improving bilateral relations
and building a mutually beneficial framework for the strategic
relationship.
The two sides should make concerted efforts to fortify the
political and economic foundation of bilateral relations and foster
understanding between the two peoples, Tang said.
The Japanese side should also address sensitive historical
issues and Japan-Taiwan relations in order to foster bilateral
relations, Tang added.
China is developing in a peaceful, cooperative and open manner,
and the Chinese government will pursue friendly relations with
Japan and is willing to work with Japan for the common development
and prosperity of Asia, Tang stressed.
Suzuki acknowledged the improvement in bilateral relations
following Abe's visit to China, pledging that the Japanese side
would face history in a correct manner and further expand bilateral
exchanges in order to promote friendship with China, as well as the
peace and stability of the world.
The 15-member delegation of Japanese congressmen is visiting
China from November 22 to 27 at the invitation of the Chinese
Association for International Understanding.
(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2006)
