Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday said China and Japan should make joint efforts to create conditions for high-level exchanges of visits in a bid to improve bilateral relations.
He also suggested the foreign affairs departments of the two countries should begin strategic study and research on strengthening and improving China-Japan relations. And problems left over from history should be properly handled.
Wen said since the normalization of bilateral relationship, the China-Japan relations have made great progress. Last year, bilateral trade approached to US$170 billion and the number of bilateral personnel visits exceeded four million.
However, there are obstacles to China-Japan relations. They are particularly in the political sector and the fundamental issue is how the Japanese side views correctly the issues left over from history.
He said the development of China-Japan relations should comply with the following three principles:
First, taking history as a mirror and looking forward into the future. The year of 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the victory on the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression won by the Chinese people. It reminded us untold sufferings of the Chinese people, Asian people and even Japanese people at that time. Therefore, "We hope that the Japanese government could take opportunities to promote friendship between the two countries."
Second, the Japanese government should stick to the "one China" principle. The Japan-America security alliance is a bilateral arrangement. The Chinese people are concerned with the alliance, because it is related to the Taiwan issue, which is China's internal affair and never allows any direct or indirect interference by any other countries.
Third, strengthening cooperation and pursuing common development. There are tremendous potentials in China-Japan friendly cooperation, especially in the economy and trade sectors, Wen said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2005)
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