Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao (
The meeting was to take place yesterday evening along the sidelines of a summit for Asian and African leaders in Jakarta, said Akira Chiba, a spokesman for Koizumi's delegation.
"The prime minister said they will talk about friendship and cooperation, which are the key to prosperity of the region," Chiba told reporters. "We were very eager to meet each other and we are happy that it's happening."
PHOTO: EPA
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan (
"The most important point is bilateral relations. That will be the main theme of the talks between the two leaders," Kong said.
"We attach emphasis on developing neighboring, friendly and cooperative relations with Japan," he said. "We hope leaders of the two countries can ... eliminate the negative impacts created by Japan's erroneous actions so that Sino-Japanese relations can move forward smoothly on a healthy foundation."
Relations between the two Asian powers plunged to a three-decade low, with massive anti-Japanese protests erupting in several Chinese cities in recent weeks over Tokyo's handling of its wartime atrocities in new junior high school textbooks and its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
APOLOGIES
At the start of the summit Friday, Koizumi apologized for his country's World War II aggression in an apparent bid to defuse tensions with China, expressing "deep remorse."
Although the statement broke no new ground, it was a clear attempt to reverse the worst erosion of ties between Tokyo and Beijing since diplomatic relations were established in 1972.
"In the past, Japan through its colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering for the people of many countries, particularly those of Asian nations," Koizumi said at the opening ceremony for the summit in Jakarta, conveying Tokyo's "heartfelt apology" for its conquests.
"Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility," he said.
Delegates at the Asian-African summit welcomed the talks between Hu and Koizumi, saying the rift between the economic powerhouses could impact regional stability.
"There is a need for China and Japan to keep on talking as any tension between them is not going to help the stability and political climate in our region," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters. Syed Hamid said Koizumi's apology should be followed up "by some action hopefully."
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he believed Koizumi's statement had been received well throughout the region.
"It has set the stage for [yesterday's] meeting. I hope it will also help facilitate the discussions and understanding that they both seek," Annan said. "These are two mature nations that have wise leaders and I hope that between them they will get relations back on track."
At least 12 million Chinese citizens died in Japan's assault on their nation in the 1930s and 1940s. Japan, an ally of Nazi Germany, conquered much of East Asia before its forces surrendered in August 1945, and memories of its brutal rule are still fresh in many countries.
NO chinese PROTESTS
In Beijing, there was no sign yesterday of new anti-Japanese protests after the government called on China's public to end unrest that might damage economic ties.
Three busloads of paramilitary troops guarded Japan's Embassy's fenced compound. Some of the anti-riot troops passed the time by doing jumping jacks and practicing martial arts in the street.
The government appealed Friday for calm, with state television quoting Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (
A spokesman for Chinese nationalist groups that helped to mobilize earlier protests said he knew of no plans for demonstrations this weekend.
"The Chinese people have already done a good job of letting Japan and the world know how we feel," said Lu Yunfei. "Everyone is now reviewing the effects of the marches and looking at where we go from here."
PRECARIOUS RELATIONS: Commentators in Saudi Arabia accuse the UAE of growing too bold, backing forces at odds with Saudi interests in various conflicts A Saudi Arabian media campaign targeting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has deepened the Gulf’s worst row in years, stoking fears of a damaging fall-out in the financial heart of the Middle East. Fiery accusations of rights abuses and betrayal have circulated for weeks in state-run and social media after a brief conflict in Yemen, where Saudi airstrikes quelled an offensive by UAE-backed separatists. The United Arab Emirates is “investing in chaos and supporting secessionists” from Libya to Yemen and the Horn of Africa, Saudi Arabia’s al-Ekhbariya TV charged in a report this week. Such invective has been unheard of
‘TERRORIST ATTACK’: The convoy of Brigadier General Hamdi Shukri resulted in the ‘martyrdom of five of our armed forces,’ the Presidential Leadership Council said A blast targeting the convoy of a Saudi Arabian-backed armed group killed five in Yemen’s southern city of Aden and injured the commander of the government-allied unit, officials said on Wednesday. “The treacherous terrorist attack targeting the convoy of Brigadier General Hamdi Shukri, commander of the Second Giants Brigade, resulted in the martyrdom of five of our armed forces heroes and the injury of three others,” Yemen’s Saudi Arabia-backed Presidential Leadership Council said in a statement published by Yemeni news agency Saba. A security source told reporters that a car bomb on the side of the road in the Ja’awla area in
US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Canada that if it concludes a trade deal with China, he would impose a 100 percent tariff on all goods coming over the border. Relations between the US and its northern neighbor have been rocky since Trump returned to the White House a year ago, with spats over trade and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney decrying a “rupture” in the US-led global order. During a visit to Beijing earlier this month, Carney hailed a “new strategic partnership” with China that resulted in a “preliminary, but landmark trade agreement” to reduce tariffs — but
SCAM CLAMPDOWN: About 130 South Korean scam suspects have been sent home since October last year, and 60 more are still waiting for repatriation Dozens of South Koreans allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia were yesterday returned to South Korea to face investigations in what was the largest group repatriation of Korean criminal suspects from abroad. The 73 South Korean suspects allegedly scammed fellow Koreans out of 48.6 billion won (US$33 million), South Korea said. Upon arrival in South Korea’s Incheon International Airport aboard a chartered plane, the suspects — 65 men and eight women — were sent to police stations. Local TV footage showed the suspects, in handcuffs and wearing masks, being escorted by police officers and boarding buses. They were among about 260 South
RSS