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Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) talks with Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 8, 2006.
(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery
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BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top leaders host the first summit talks
Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is making his first foreign
visit since taking office on Sept. 26, and describe it as a "turning point" in
declining China-Japan relations.
"Your ongoing visit is serving as a turning point in
the China-Japan relations and I hope it would also serve as a new starting point
for the improvement and development of bilateral ties," Chinese President Hu
Jintao told Abe.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao gave a red-carpet welcome
for Abe's visit on Sunday afternoon, which was honored by a 19-gun cannon
salute, before holding talks with the 52-year-old new Japanese prime minister.
"Recently, China and Japan reached a consensus on
overcoming the political obstacle affecting bilateral relationship and promoting
friendly and cooperative relationship, which comes up with the prime minister's
visit, opening 'a window of hope'," said Premier Wen.
China-Japan relations soured over former Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's persistent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine,
where 14 Japanese class-A war criminals of the World War II are honored among
the country's war dead.
Abe is the first Japanese leader visiting China in
five years.
President Hu said China-Japan relations faced
difficulties because an "individual Japanese leader" kept visiting the war
shrine. "That was not what we are willing to see," Hu said.
"I hope the stalemate in Chinese-Japanese relations
will come to an end and I believe this visit will turn a new leaf for
Chinese-Japanese ties," Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo said.
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Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, shakes hands
with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their meeting in Beijing,
capital of China, Oct. 8, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery
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China's stance has been consistent with regard to
China-Japan relations.
"China and Japan must look at and handle bilateral
relations from strategic and long-term perspectives, follow the goal of peaceful
coexistence, generation-to-generation friendship, reciprocal cooperation and
common development so as to push forward bilateral ties," said Hu.
Hu said in March this year that the difficult
situation in China-Japan relationship was not caused by the Chinese side or the
Japanese people. The major obstacle in China-Japan relationship was Japanese
leader's insistence on visiting the shrine.
Abe, in talks with Premier Wen, said he believes the
future of Japan-China relations will have "no cloud", and he is ready to further
the dialogue between the leaders of the two countries.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe review the guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony
in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 8, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)
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Japan-China relations are one of the most important
bilateral relations, said Abe, adding that Japan will continue to honor the
three political documents to develop bilateral ties.
Abe said Japan imposed great damages and sufferings
on the Asian people in the past, and it is Japan's fixed policy on sticking to a
peaceful development path on the basis of the deep introspection of the history.
Abe reiterated that Japan will, in accordance with
the joint statement, adhere to a one-China policy, and not support "two Chinas",
"one China, one Taiwan" and "Taiwan independence". It opposes any unilateral
change of the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.
In a joint press communique issued Sunday, China and
Japan agreed that the exchanges and dialogue is of importance to the healthy
development of bilateral relations.
"The Japanese side invites Chinese leaders to visit
Japan, the Chinese side expresses thanks and agrees in principle," the
communique says.
"If Abe's visit helps resume top-level talks between
China and Japan, it will be beneficial to rein in falling bilateral relations
and promote future relations between the two Asian countries, " said Liu
Jiangyong, a Japan expert in Tsinghua University.
Xu Dunxin, who was Chinese ambassador to Japan from
1993 to 1998, was "prudently optimistic" about the prospects of China-Japan
relations. He said Abe's visit cannot resolve all the problems in bilateral ties
as they are complicated and protracted.
But Abe's visit will open a channel for top leaders
of the two countries to communicate and exchange views, and lay groundwork for
further discussions, Xu said. Enditem
Joint communique: Sino-Japanese
relations of top priority
BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan have
agreed that bilateral relations are one of the most important diplomatic
priorities for both countries, according to a joint press communique issued
Sunday.
The communique was issued as Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abebegan a visit to Beijing.
Both sides agreed to make efforts to build a mutually
beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests and to realize the
goals of peaceful co-existence, friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and
common development, the communique says.
Chinese president meets Japanese PM in Beijing
BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu
Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Great Hall of the
People Sunday afternoon, soon after Abe's talks with Premier Wen Jiabao.
"Your ongoing visit is serving as a turning point in
the China-Japan relations and I hope it would also serve as a new starting point
for the improvement and development of bilateral ties," Hu told Abe,
congratulating upon Abe's taking office as prime minister.
Chinese, Japanese PMs hold talks in Beijing
BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held their first talks in Beijing
Sunday afternoon, following a welcoming ceremony in Abe's honor.
Wen told Abe that it is in the fundamental interests
of the two peoples to develop a friendly cooperative relationship between China
and Japan.
This is an irresistible general trend and common
aspiration of the two peoples, Wen said.
Japanese PM arrives in Beijing for official
visit
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and
his wife (front) arrive in Beijing Oct. 8, 2006, starting a two-day
official visit to China.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery
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BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
arrived in the Chinese capital Sunday afternoon, for his first foreign trip as
leader and his first summit talks with Chinese leaders.
Shortly afterwards, Abe is scheduled to meet Chinese
President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao,
respectively, before flying to Seoul early Monday for talks with President Roh
Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea (ROK).
The nuclear test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will also be an "important agenda" of the meeting between Abe and the Chinese leaders, according to the Japanese embassy in Beijing. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
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