Leaders pave way forward

TOKYO: Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe yesterday agreed on concrete steps to build mutuallybeneficial strategic ties.

Wen's three-day trip, the first by a Chinese premier in nearly seven years, comes six months after Abe went to Beijing to mend ties chilled by his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, who repeatedly visited Yasukuni Shrine that honors Japan's war criminals of World War II.

Yesterday, the two leaders declared their firm intention to move forward on rebuilding relations, signed agreements on energy and the environment and issued a joint statement that spelt out issues for cooperation.