Fukuda’s visit to foster new cordial ties between Beijing and Tokyo
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda continues his visit to China in a cordial and open atmosphere. So far no major breakthrough has been made on this, the second day of his four-day visit.
After a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Mr Fukuda said that some progress had been made on the dispute involving gas exploration in the East China Sea which may have as much as 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 25 billion tonnes of crude oil. The Japanese leader added that he hoped “for more progress on common points” and “for settlement [of the issue] as early as possible.”
Japanese diplomatic sources said that “each others' positions have narrowed considerably” and acknowledged that the two sides had agreed on trying to find a solution by the time President Hu Jintao visits Japan next spring.
Minor agreements were concluded though on scientific cooperation on climate change and joint development of nuclear fusion.
Japan also agreed to train up to 10,000 Chinese scientists in the latest energy conservation techniques.
Mr Wen stressed “each other's sincerity” and desire to see the East China Sea turn into an area of peace and cooperation.
For his part Mr Fukuda reiterated Japan's opposition to Taiwanese independence and Taiwan's plans to hold a referendum on UN membership.
China considers the “island” a rebel province and fears that a referendum might be viewed as a declaration of independence.
Fukuda also met today with parliament chief Wu Bangguo and President Hu later in the day to discuss economic, environmental and energy co-operation, especially ways to transfer Japan's waste-cutting and energy-saving technology to China.
Ties between the two neighbours have warmed in the past year after a long chill during the 2001-2006 term of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who paid repeated visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine, which Beijing sees as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
Relations began improving with an ice-breaking trip made 14 months ago by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Both sides are interested in closer ties. Japan's trade with China stood at US$ 249.3 billion in 2006.
“By having courage and wisdom to look at the past squarely and reflect on what we should reflect on, we can hope for an error-free future,” Fukuda said in a speech at Peking University.
Fukuda’s father, former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, signed a peace and friendship treaty with China in 1978.
The two countries want to leave behind decades of horrible wars, and must form a “strategic partnership” for the sake of regional and world peace, Fukuda said.
Despite warming ties problems persist and the Asian giants are suspicious of each other's military ambitions. Tokyo has urged Beijing to be more transparent about its soaring defence outlays, whilst China is not particularly happy to see Japan build up its military forces. (PB)
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