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Japan, China bolster ties during four-day summit

A Japanese flag is pictured above an image of Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, yesterday. PHOTO: EPA

Japan urged China to use its growing influence to make an impact on key global issues such as climate change as the visiting Japanese prime minister held summit talks yesterday that reflected warmer ties between the countries.

The two neighbors have a history of animosity stemming from disputes over territory, resources and wartime history, but Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's four-day visit -- his first as prime minister -- follows several friendly meetings between leaders and a Chinese warship's historic port call to Japan.

"In the long history of our relations, there has never been a time when Japan and China has had more influence or responsibilities in Asia and the world," Fukuda said at a joint news conference with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶). "We face a big opportunity going forward."

Wen also praised the improved bilateral relations.

"Prime Minister Fukuda said the spring has come in our relations and after 2-1/2 hours of talks, I truly feel that the spring of China-Japan relations has indeed arrived," Wen said.

Fukuda was to meet later yesterday with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), and Wen confirmed that Hu will visit Japan next year. It will be the first such trip by a Chinese head of state since former Chinese president Jiang Zemin (江澤民) visited in 1998.

"Its significance is truly great," Wen said.

The two sides signed an agreement to promote scientific and technological cooperation to fight climate change.

The agreement calls for Japan to invite 50 young researchers from China every year for the next four years to be trained to combat global warming.

Another agreement called for the launching of a joint project to study and develop magnetic nuclear fission and there was also a memorandum on increasing exchanges between the youth of China and Japan.

Japan is eager to help China tackle pollution that is increasingly felt across the sea in Japan.

"Both sides have consistently believed that, on climate change, pushing forward cooperation is our duty and responsibility in the international community," Fukuda said.

Industries in China are notorious for their inefficiency, requiring more coal or other energy sources to produce the same amount of output as a plant in Japan.

Other topics included a long-running dispute over China and Japan's competing claims to gas reserves in the East China Sea, which both nations hope to exploit to feed their fuel-hungry economies.

"We will continue negotiations and aim for a resolution as quickly as possible," Fukuda said after meeting Wen.

The two also discussed North Korea, a close ally of Beijing, which has been accused of abducting Japanese citizens during the 1970s and 1980s.

"On the kidnapping issue, Premier Wen supports Japan and North Korea resolving this issue through dialogue," Fukuda said.

Japan has also expressed its concern about surging Chinese military spending and wants more transparency from Beijing.

Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mitsuo Sakaba said Japan wished for more military exchanges, but did not answer a question on whether Fukuda had asked to visit any military sites. None was on his itinerary.

Fukuda also spoke at the prestigious Peking University. His remarks were broadcast live on Chinese television.

He visits the industrial port of Tianjin today and will make a stop in Qufu, the birthplace of the ancient philosopher Confucius (孔子), before returning home tomorrow.
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