Japanese PM: Japan to promote closer ties with China

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-27-2007 08:22

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has expressed his wish to promote closer relations with China before his planned trip to Beijing.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is scheduled to visit China on Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is scheduled to visit China on Thursday. He said while relations with China have not always been smooth, they have seen substantial improvement.

Yasuo Fukuda said, "There was, indeed, a winter period. But now ties with China have improved, and I hope they will get even better, creating a relationship of mutual trust and cooperation."

During an interview with CCTV and other Chinese media in Tokyo, Fukuda said he is pleased to visit China during the year marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. He said he hopes to improve these ties even more.

Fukuda said Sino-Japanese relations have been progressing smoothly since the visit to China by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in October 2006 and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan in April 2007. Fukuda called for more top-level exchanges and the building of relations based on mutual trust.

On the economic front, Fukuda said China's economic development offers Japan and the rest of the world many opportunities. China is Japan's largest trading partner, and Japan is the largest investor in China. Both factors, Fukuda said, are crucial to the growth of the two countries' economies.

Fukuda said Japan is ready to promote dialogue and exchanges with China in all areas and at all levels, particularly between the young.

Regarding environmental protection and energy, Fukuda said both are important areas for building mutually beneficial cooperation, which can also contribute to development in Asia and the world. Fukuda said he plans to make concrete proposals on how the two sides can work together in this area during his visit.

Editor:Zhang Ning