A Chinese diplomat, amidst aspirations from the
Chinese and Japanese people for better relations, on Thursday in Tokyo urged
Japan to make a wise and unequivocal decision on bilateral relations, and China
will respond accordingly.
Chinese ambassador to
Japan Wang Yi speaks at the Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo on China-Japan
relations August 3, 2006.
[chinadaily.com.cn] |
Wang Yi, Chinese ambassador
to Japan, made these remarks to the opening ceremony of the second Beijing-Tokyo
Forum. The two-day forum is jointly organized by China Daily, Peking University
and Japanese think tank Genron NPO.
He said Japanese politicians should have the courage to correctly treat
history and properly handle all existing problems, and build a base for
long-term stable relations. If the Japanese side makes such a decision, China
will make a goodwill response.
The ambassador made a four-point proposal to improve bilateral relations:
First, efforts should be made to promote mutual understanding. The two countries should
adhere to peaceful development.
Second, the two countries should overcome political difficulties. Japan
should treat history issues in a correct manner and handle the currently
existing problems properly to build a future-oriented, long-term and stable
relationship. If the Japanese side makes unequivocal decision, China will
respond accordingly.
Third, the two countries should build mutual trust. Good country-to-country
relationship, just like person-to-person ties, need to establish and value
mutual trust. The three joint political documents, including the Sino-Japanese
Joint Declaration, have clearly stated the principles the two sides should
follow.
Fourth, the two countries should conduct mutually benefiting and win-win
cooperation. To improve China-Japan relations is also the expectation of other
Asian countries and the whole world. The two sides should enhance their
complementarities, seek mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and help build a
co-operative, harmonious and open Asia.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe also spoke at the forum,
saying great efforts needed to improve the chilled bilateral relations.
He cited some figures to illustrate the current situation of ties. More than
50 top government officials, leading experts and media executive are attending
the forum discuss ways to promote mutual understanding and build new type of
bilateral ties.
The theme of this year's forum is "Facing Asia's Future -- Building New
China-Japan Relations". Participants from the two countries will have frank and
in-depth discussion and exchanges on bilateral communications and cooperation,
resources, energy and environment and rebuilding mutual trust.
This is the second forum. The first was held in Beijing in August last year.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, at his March meeting with the heads of seven
Japan-China friendship organizations, said Beijing values the Sino-Japanese
relations and regards it as one of the important bilateral relations in the
world, and China has made unswerving efforts to improve the ties.
Hu offered talks with Japanese top leaders as soon as they make an
unequivocal decision to stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.
The relationship between China and Japan has been chilled in recent years due
to Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro's repeated pilgrimage to the
Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including 14
Class-A World War II criminals.
Leaders of the two neighboring countries have halted exchanges of visit for
about five years, ever since Koizumi began paying homage to the controversial
war shrine soon after he took office in 2001.
