Abe to visit China 

Source: CCTV.com

10-07-2006 15:33

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay an official visit to China on Sunday, his first trip abroad since taking office last month. Before the visit, Abe repeated that he would follow the Murayama statement - it apologized and expressed remorse for Japan's colonial rule and atrocities before and during the Second World War.

Abe admitted Friday that World War Two brought great pain to many Japanese and long lasting suffering to people of other Asian Nations. He said the country's leaders during that period were responsible for this.

Abe also said that Japan accepts the ruling of the tribunal of the Far East under the 1951 San Francisco

Peace Treaty. He added that Japan would not object to it in diplomatic relations.

In 1995, the then premier Tomiichi Murayama stated that Japan, following mistaken national policies and advancing along the road to war, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations.

Editor:Lu Yuying