The sensitive history and Taiwan issues should be handled
properly to improve China-Japan ties, said Chinese top legislator
Wu Bangguo on Tuesday.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress (NPC), made the remarks while meeting with Speaker of the
House of Representatives of Japan Yohei Kono.
He said China will make joint efforts with Japan to seize the
opportunity to carry out the important agreement between the
leaders of the two countries.
"The major sensitive issues of history and Taiwan should be
handled properly to consolidate the political foundation of
China-Japan relations and add momentum to the healthy development
of bilateral ties," he said.
Wu said that he hopes Kono, also chairman of the Japan
association for the promotion of international trade, will play his
due role in deepening friendship and enhancing pragmatic
cooperation between the two countries.
The improvement of China-Japan relations not only complies with
the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but
also benefits peace, stability and development of Asia and the
world, Wu said.
Wu and Kono pledged to make full use of the regular exchange
mechanism between the parliaments to facilitate nation-to-nation
relations.
China-Japan relations were at the lowest point over the past
five years because of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi's repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14
Class-A war criminals during the World War II.
Koizumi's successor Shinzo Abe paid an "ice-breaking" visit to
China in October. The leaders of the two countries agreed to
construct the strategic relationship.
Later, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Shinzo Abe met again on the
sideline of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi
of Vietnam in November.
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)