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TOKYO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's newly-elected prime minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday that he is willing to make efforts to "further develop" the Sino-Japanese ties.

Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C Front) poses in a photo session with his cabinet members after the first cabinet meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Sept. 26, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)
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At the first press conference he hosted as prime minister, Abe said that China is an important country for Japan, and China's peaceful development will be conducive to Asia.

Abe said that he would like to make efforts to "further develop" the bilateral ties between Japan and China. He said this at the press conference held in the premier's official residence on Tuesday evening.

Abe stressed that as an Asian country, Japan knows the importance of building up friendly ties with its Asian neighbors. He also mentioned the importance of candid summit talks with China and South Korea.

The new prime minister also emphasized his desire to promote the alliance with the United States and lead his country to take a leadership in international affairs.

Abe sealed a victory in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s presidential election on Sept. 20 and won the confirmative vote in an extra plenary Diet session on Tuesday afternoon, becoming Japan's youngest postwar prime minister and the first premier born after World War II. Enditem

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered congratulations to Shinzo Abe over his inauguration as Japan's new Prime Minister on Tuesday.

In a congratulatory message, Wen expressed his "heartfelt congratulations" to Abe.

Chinese premier says China willing to develop friendly ties with Japan

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday sent a message to Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, expressing China's willingness to make efforts to develop good neighborly, friendly, and cooperative relations with Japan on the basis of three political documents.

The three documents -- the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Peace and Friendship Treaty, and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration -- have been the guiding principles for the development of Sino-Japanese relations over the past 30-plus years.

Also on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing sent a message to his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso to congratulate him on his reelection. Enditem

Shinzo Abe elected Japan's new prime minister

Parliament members applaud for the election of Shinzo Abe (2nd L Front) as prime minister at the House of Representatives in Tokyo, Sept. 26, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)
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TOKYO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The newly-elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe expectably won the vote in an extra Diet session and was elected the country's new prime minister on Tuesday afternoon.

His earlier victory, with 339 votes out the some 480, in the lower house, which holds the final say in picking a premier, was corresponded in the upper house given the majorities enjoyed by the ruling bloc, made up of the LDP and its coalition partner New Komeito party, in both houses. Full story >>>