China and Japanese pledge to further bilateral ties

Ahead of their first joint study of history, China and Japan on Monday pledged continued efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries, who suffer from serious trust deficiency.

Beijing, Dec 25: Ahead of their first joint study of
history, China and Japan on Monday pledged continued efforts to
strengthen ties between the two countries, who suffer from
serious trust deficiency.

In a telephone conversation, Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso agreed that the
overall bilateral relationship now maintains a good momentum
for improvement and development.

The two ministers agreed to enhance coordination to
promote the process of the six-party talks on the Korean
Peninsula nuclear issue, in efforts to achieve the
denuclearisation of the peninsula at an early date.

The Li-Aso talk came on the eve of a joint study of
history by Chinese and Japanese academics.

The experts from the two sides will start joint studies
on their war-torn history as part of the two countries'
efforts to improve ties strained by persistent disputes over
the past.

Ties between Beijing and Tokyo have been frosty over
Japan's 1931-1945 wartime occupation, with China harbouring
deep bitterness over Japanese atrocities.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi further
inflamed tensions with his annual visits to the Yasukuni
shrine in Central Tokyo, which honours 2.5 million war dead
including 14 top war criminals.

China views the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of Japan's
past militarism.

Koizumi's successor, Shinzo Abe, visited Beijing in
October to mend fences, just weeks after he took office. At a
meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, the two leaders
agreed on the need for joint history studies.

Under this, 20 academics, 10 from each side, will meet
for two days in Beijing from Tuesday in the first round of
what is expected to be twice-yearly discussions that aim to
conclude with a report in 2008.

"I hope the experts from the two countries can do the
study on the basis of principles of the three political
documents and face history in a correct manner," Chinese
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Qin Gang said.

Through the study of 2000 years of history between China
and Japan as well as modern and Post-World War II history, it
will enhance the mutual understanding of the objective
history, he said.

Bureau Report

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.
Tags: