Home | Join | Login | Help | Chinese | GCP | Forum
 
Logistics Zone
Members
Resources
My Jctrans
Welcome jctrans.net!
Resources
   
Focus | News | Exhibition | Policies & Law | Industry Research | Tools Online
Home > Jctrans.net > News > Business > Biz China
 
 
Premier expects to "melt ice" during Japan tour, warns against shrine visits
POSTED: 8:47 a.m. EDT, April 5,2007

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday said he expected his Japan visit next week to be a success, but said that he hoped there would be no further visits to the Yasukuni shrine by Japanese leaders.

"I hope to make the visit a success, and really 'melt the ice' in China-Japan relations," Wen said in a joint interview with journalists from 16 Japanese news organizations.

The interview came ahead of Wen's Japan tour slated for April 11-13, the first to Japan by a Chinese premier in seven years.

The premier, however, warned against Japanese leaders' visits to Yasukuni shrine, which has been a key source of tension between China and Japan.

"The shrine visits by individual Japanese leaders over the pastfew years deeply hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and seriously undermined China-Japan ties," Wen said. "I hope this will never happen again."

High-level visits between the two countries were suspended for years because of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the shrine honoring 14 class-A WWII criminals.

Wen said China and Japan will draft a joint document during his visit.
"The joint document will spell out the two countries' aspirations to build a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship, and the meaning and major tasks involved in this relationship," Wen said.

"This is a significant event, ushering in a new era of China-Japan relations."

This relationship should be based on the principles of enhancing mutual trust, honoring commitments, seeking common ground and respecting differences, Wen said.

Wen also proposed China and Japan look to the future, increase exchanges and consultations and cope with challenges.

Also on Wednesday, Abe said at his official residence he expected Japan and China to develop strategic, mutually beneficial relations.

"Wen's and Abe's remarks indicate that the two governments have a very similar agenda," said Jin Xide, a research fellow on Japanese studies at the China Academy of Social Sciences.

"However, since the political foundation, public sentiments and opinions on China-Japan relations are relatively fragile, it will be a long and difficult process to build this relationship," Jin said.

Wen's visit comes at a time when China-Japan ties are improving, boosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ice-breaking China visit last October.

China appreciated the fact that Abe had chosen China as his first overseas destination when he took office as prime minister last September, Wen said.

"During my tour, I will invite Abe to visit China this year," Wen added.

Wen's visit also coincided with the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations and the Year of Cultural and Sports Exchanges.

China-Japan trade volume has increased by nearly 200 times from 1.1 billion U.S. dollars in 1972 to 207.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2006.

The premier disclosed that he and Abe will co-chair a meeting in Tokyo to launch the high-level economic dialogue mechanism between China and Japan.

Wen also said that President Hu Jintao would visit Japan at a "convenient time" for both sides.

Wen said he was optimistic about the possibilities of finding solutions to the East China Sea issue concerning gas field development.

"The two countries have agreed to put disputes aside and jointly develop the area," he said.

China and Japan held the latest round of talks on the East China Sea in Tokyo last week, which Wen said were "positive consultations."

"We believe the issue can be resolved by peaceful means as long as we continue to work together and have more negotiations," Wen said.

On regional issues, Wen touched on the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

The premier said the six-party talks "will not come to a halt" and pledged China would continue to promote the process.

China understands and sympathizes with Japan's position on the abduction issue and is willing to help resolve it, Wen said in the interview.

The interview took place in Zhongnanhai in downtown Beijing where China's top leaders work and live.

The interview also touched on trade and military exchanges between the two countries.

During Wen's stay in Tokyo, Wen is expected to hold talks with Abe and meet with Emperor Akihito. He is scheduled to deliver a speech in the Japanese parliament.

The three-day tour will also take Wen to the ancient capital of Kyoto, where he will visit a university.

Wen will visit the Republic of Korea before landing in Japan.

From:xinhua
Biz China>>
Print | Save


RELATED
Thailand, Japan sign free trade pact (2007-4-4 9:35:00)
Air China Cargo to launch new service to Japan and Korea (2007-4-2 9:11:00)
Tourists between China and Japan hit five million last year (2007-3-18 14:17:00)
Government urged to wrap up FTA deal (2007-2-20 11:46:00)
South Korean, Japanese Refiners Forge Strategic Alliance (2007-1-23 13:17:00)
Test Experiment of Hybrid Transfer Crane Starts at Tokyo Container Terminal (2007-1-21 9:48:00)
Taiwan's Dream Beauty' Rice Plantation to Export to Japan (2007-1-17 13:31:00)
Tokyo shares open higher on 2007 first trading day (2007-1-4 11:25:00)
Ford expects to fall soon to No. 3 spot: report (2006-12-22 15:56:00)
Australia, Japan to start FTA negotiations early next year (2006-12-13 9:45:00)
Hanjin sells box terminals but keeps control (2006-12-8 8:53:00)
Airlines in Japan and Korea step up partnership (2006-12-7 13:08:00)

Today's Top News
 
Weekly Roundup

Freight Forwarder Korea
Forwarder in Japan
 
 
Tools Online
Cargo Tracking
Chinese Port Charge List
World Port
Country Code
Shipping Dictionary
Unite Conversion
                More>>
 
 
 
 
Home - Shipping - Airfreight - Integration - Member - Resources - My Jctrans - Links
About Us - Help - Contact Us
嶄猟利
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
Copyright Notice 2000-2007 Jctrans.com Corporation and its licensors. All rights reserved.