The Minister of Japan's Embassy in Beijing Ide gave an interview
to China.org.cn?on April 5 and stated that the Japanese
government aims to build a friendly relationship with China in the
fields of politics, economy and culture.
Ide praised the success of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's
ice-breaking visit to China in last October, and said it showed the
importance both Japan and China place in strong bilateral
relations.
Addressing Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan this week, the
first such trip in seven years for a Chinese premier, Ide said that
the Japanese government and people both welcomed the visit and all
future governmental and personnel exchanges.
Turning to Chinese citizens wanting to work or study in Japan,
Ide said that Japan would be overjoyed to welcome talented Chinese
sci-tech personnel. He cited the example of Dalian City in Liaoning Province as having put forth many
computer technicians who ply their trade in Japan.
However, he admitted that for most people simply wishing to work
in the country, obtaining a Japanese visa would be very
difficult.
Ide also said that although Japan would provide a warm welcome
to bright young people, some procedures were unavoidable. For
example, when applying to a Japanese university, both a
qualification and a banking guarantee must be provided. He also
warned against providing fake documents to avoid further
complications and inevitable troubles.
As to the China-Japan Year of Cultural and Sports Exchanges, Ide
revealed that Japanese business and cultural leaders had formed an
executive committee for the occasion to team up with the Chinese
committee, led by Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Culture, with input
from seven ministries and departments. On March 13, a concert
gathering both Chinese and Japanese pop stars was held in Beijing
while a Japanese film festival has also been held in the Wangfujing
area of Beijing. A final example was provided by Rin, a famed
Japanese group which combine traditional and modern musical
elements, and completed a successful tour of Beijing, Shanghai and
Xi'an last month.
The highlight of the year will come in September during the
precise 35th anniversary of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and
Friendship. "The Japanese government places high value on this
occasion and some VIPs from Japan will be on hand to further
bilateral communication," said Ide.
He also hoped that the warming of relations seen of late would
be secured in the future by the bonds created between young people
from China and Japan during these activities.
Ide revealed that through the Chinese Ministry of Education, the
China-Japan Friendship Association and the two Foreign Ministries,
around 1,000 Chinese high school students had visited Japan either
for a brief week stay or for a year-long study. They were welcomed
in local families and thus gained new insights and experiences, a
common bond they share with their Japanese peers living in Chinese
families. Ide also revealed that the program would be ramped up
this year to cover more families.?
Proof was offered for Ide, when he spoke to Japanese students
having completed their stay in China since they now saw China in a
different light, proving the necessity of direct communication.
Turning to the Olympics, Ide gave his support to Beijing, saying
that "holding an Olympic Games is a great impetus for the further
development of a country's economy and the improvement of national
power. So, in my opinion, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will have great
impact on economic development of China."
According to him, the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and the
Shinkansen (the high-speed railway) opened in the year stood as
towering examples of the Japanese economic boom.
He expressed his belief that many Japanese would visit China for
the Olympics. In helping to achieve this goal, the Japanese Embassy
to China recently invited some staff members of the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad to brief
Japanese media and travel agencies on food, accommodation and
transportation details during the Olympic Games.
(China.org.cn April 9, 2007)
