Chinese Premier meets Japanese PM 

Source: CCTV.com

10-08-2006 16:21

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held their first talks in Beijing Sunday afternoon, following a welcoming ceremony in Abe's honor. Abe arrived here earlier Sunday for his first foreign trip as leader. He is also the first Japanese postwar prime minister who chose China as the destination of his first official overs trip. Abe is also expected to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo respectively, before flying to Seoul early Monday for talks with President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea.

Abe profile

At the age of fifty-two, Shinzo Abe is the first Japanese Prime Minister to be born after World War Two.

Abe was born into a political family. His father was a foreign minister and his grandfather a former prime minister. In 1993, Abe joined Parliament and assumed his first Cabinet position only a year ago as Chief Secretary. On September 26th this year, he was elected Japan's Prime Minister.

Abe enjoys watching movies, playing golf, and is an avid reader. Chinese classics appeal to him, being especially inspired by the work of Chinese philosopher Mencius. Abe has twice visited China,once in 1997 and again in 2001.

The newly elected Prime Minister has already pledged to work on improving relations with Japan's Asian neighbors. He hopes to focus such efforts on China and South Korea.

Editor:Sun Luying