Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's upcoming visit to China
will help promote mutual understanding and open a path for the
development of true friendship, a Japanese newspaper said
Wednesday.
The Japanese-language Tokyo Shimbun newspaper said in an
editorial that although Japan and China hold different views on the
East China Sea issue and the Taiwan issue, frank exchange of views
and increase of mutual understanding will open a path for the
development of true friendship.
Exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries had
been halted for around five years, due to former premier Koizumi
Junichiro's repeated visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine. Last
October, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's China tour has reopened
high-level visits, the paper said.
Fukuda, who attaches importance to Asian diplomacy, will start
his trip to Beijing on Thursday. China has extended welcome to
Fukuda's visit, the editorial said.
During the four-day official visit, the premier is expected to
meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and hold talks with his
Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao. He will also meet with top
legislator Wu Bangguo.
The paper said that Fukuda will also visit Qufu of east China's
Shandong Province, the hometown of Confucius, noting that it would
help enhance the Chinese people's sentiment toward Japan.
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2007)
