Related report: Six-party talks - 3rd phase of 5th round 

    BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Wednesday that he hoped to make the East China Sea "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."

    Wen made the remarks in response to a question on the East China Sea issue during a joint interview with 16 Japanese news organizations ahead of his Japan tour slated for April 11 to 13.

    The East China Sea issue is of key concern to both countries, Wen said.

    To resolve this issue, he added, China had proposed the principle of shelving disputes and making joint exploration.

    "I hope the two sides can actively pursue consultation on this issue and seek solutions accepted by both sides," he said.

    China and Japan held their seventh round of talks on the East China Sea in Tokyo late March. "These discussions are positive and we are glad that they are taking place," the premier said.

    "Getting things started is always difficult, but if we work together, we believe a significant step can be taken towards the peaceful solution of these disputes," Wen said.

Chinese Premier says six-party talks process will not stop

    BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Wednesday the process of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue will not come to a halt, pledging that China would continue to promote the process.

    In a joint interview with Japanese media prior to his upcoming visit to Japan, Wen said a movement towards denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula was underway, and the six-party talks process would not stop. Full story

Wen expresses hope Japanese leader's shrine visit "will never happen again"

    BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Wednesday that repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by some Japanese leaders had greatly hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, and seriously undermined Sino-Japanese relations.

    "I hope this will never happen again", Wen said in a joint interview with 16 Japanese news organizations. Full story

China to increase military exchanges with Japan, premier says     

    BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao said on Wednesday China is ready to increase military exchanges and boost defense dialogue with Japan.

    China and Japan have a great deal of influence both in northeast Asia and in the world at large, Wen said. Developing military exchanges and a defense dialogue will help them increase understanding, avoid confrontation and safeguard peace and development of the region and the world. Full story