PHILIPPINES: China and Japan mend ties, agreeing on April summit on the sidelines of ASEAN conference in Cebu

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Japan in April, officials said on Sunday (January 14), in the clearest sign yet that relations between Asia's biggest powers are on the mend. Wen and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe used the ASEAN regional summit in the central Philippines to firm up a timeframe for China's first state trip to Japan in over six years. ASEAN, (the Association of South East Asian Nations), is stepping up effort to establish itself as a world player, and urged China and Japan to find fresh ideas to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis and remove the threat of an atomic arms race in the region. Relations with Japan's neighbours hit a nadir due to Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, repeatedly visiting Tokyo's Yasukuni's war shrine, seen by critics as glorifying Japan's World War II militarism. Wen invited Abe to visit China in the second half of the year, an offer the Japanese leader said he would consider depending on the outcome of their discussions in April. "Today's summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe and Premier Wen, there was an agreement to realise Premier Wen's visit to Japan in early April. And we really welcome Premier Wen's visit to Japan," Noriyuki Shikata, assistant press secretary at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Reuters. Shikata added that China and Japan - along with South Korea - used the opportunity to discuss North Korea. "Prime Minister Abe expressed his disappointment that the six party talks in December didn't produce substantial progress," Shikata said after a trilateral meeting among Japan, China and South Korea. "And we are hoping to address the issues of nuclear, missile, and abduction issues as early as possible. And China, as chair of the six-party talks, plays a vital role. So in today's meeting, the three leaders of Japan, China and South Korea agreed to work on this issue of North Korea." Qin Gang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters after the meeting that China's Premiere Wen Jiabao stressed that appropriate handling of the historical problem is crucial in maintaining the relation of both countries, adding that he hopes Japan will keep to its promise and not let historical issues disrupt relations. Both countries were competing for influence with ASEAN, which accelerated its target date for economic integration to 2015 and agreed to become a rules-based bloc with teeth, a bold departure for an organisation frequently derided as a talking shop. Meanwhile, bedecked in pearls and a cream, floor-length Filipino gown, Arroyo hosted a gala dinner for the 16 Asian leaders on Sunday night. Beauty queens and a Broadway star entertained the VIPs, who wore traditional Barong shirts made of pineapple fibres and were fed lobster and seafood salad served on black mother-of-pearl shells.

ITN Source | January 15, 2007

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