Hu: History key to improving ties
By Le Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-10-09 07:14

Prior to his meeting with Hu, Abe reviewed a military honour guard in front of the Great Hall of the People accompanied by Premier Wen Jiabao.

Abe noted that Beijing's morning rain had given way to clear skies. "I believe that our bilateral relations will also enjoy clear skies," Abe said at the beginning of one-and-a-half-hour closed-door talks with Wen.

Wen told Abe that it is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples to develop a friendly co-operative relationship between China and Japan. This is an irresistible general trend and the common aspiration of the two peoples, he added.

He said Abe's visit has opened a "window of hope" in developing relations.

Wen said that Sino-Japanese relations face both opportunities and challenges.

Wen stressed that to achieve long-term stable and healthy development of China-Japan relations, the Yasukuni Shrine issue must be properly solved and political obstacles affecting bilateral ties must be removed in line with the consensus reached between the two nations.

"Promises must be kept and action must be resolute," Wen said, noting that this is an important guarantee for pushing forward China-Japan relations. Wen proposed a five-point proposal on developing future bilateral relations:

First, the two countries should maintain mutual visits by the leaders of the two countries.

Second, the two sides should continue strategic dialogue.

Third, the two sides should improve economic and technological co-operation mechanisms and strive for greater development of economic and trade relations.

Fourth, the two sides should conduct cultural and educational exchanges, and expand non-governmental exchanges.

Fifth, the two sides should strengthen consultation on regional issues.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo also met Abe yesterday.

"You can choose friends but not neighbours." Therefore developing good neighbourly ties is the only choice that conforms to the fundamental interests of Chinese and Japanese people, said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.


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