TOKYO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day official visit which he has described as an "ice thawer" in Sino-Japanese ties following the "ice-breaking" trip by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to China last October.
The visit was the first by a Chinese premier since
2000, as the two countries work hard to mend relations battered by former
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to Tokyo's infamous
Yasukuni shrine, where Japan's war dead including 14 class-A World War II
criminals were honored.
In a written statement released at the airport, Wen
said the Sino-Japanese relations were significant to both nations, which are two
important countries in Asia and the world. This year marks the 35th anniversary
of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties, and thus the two countries are
facing a historic opportunity to improve bilateral ties, he added.
"My visit is aimed at promoting political trust and
expanding reciprocal cooperation and friendly exchanges so as to push forward
Sino-Japanese relations to develop in a long-term, healthy and stable way," said
the premier.
In addition to talks with Abe, Wen is expected to make
an official visit to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko during his visit. He
will also deliver a speech in the Japanese Diet (or parliament).
China and Japan will draft a joint document spelling
out the two countries' aspirations to build a strategic, mutually beneficial
relationship, and the major tasks involved in this relationship, according to
Chinese officials.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry officials have revealed
that the economic issue will be high on Wen's agenda.
Wen also hopes to promote long-term educational and
cultural exchanges and exchanges between the youths of the two countries, and
further boost the good-neighborly relations between China and Japan.
"I hope to upgrade Sino-Japanese relations to a new
level through the visit," Wen said.
Abe chose China for his first overseas trip after
taking office last September, a move believed to be a sign of the new prime
minister's eagerness to improve relations with China.
"If Prime Minister Abe's visit to China ... can be
described as an ice breaker, then I hope my visit to Japan will be an ice
thawer," Wen told the press before his visit.
Abe had echoed Wen's hope for warmer bilateral
relations and the establishment of a strategic partnership, and pledged to make
Wen's visit a success.
Abe said he will seek Wen's support to resolve the
kidnapping issue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and also wants
to win China's support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United
Nations Security Council.
Prior to his Japanese tour, Wen paid a two-day official visit to South Korea.
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