CHINA / National
China, Japan vow to expand ties
By China Daily (Sun Shangwu)
Updated: 2006-11-20 06:46
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
in Hanoi, Viet Nam on November 18, 2006. [Xinhua]
HANOI: China and Japan agreed to expand bilateral relations by
maintaining high-level contacts and increasing co-operation in energy,
economy and trade.
President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached the
agreement on Saturday in a meeting on the sidelines of the 14th Economic
Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation.
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The meeting between Hu and Abe is their second since Abe took office in
September. Abe visited Beijing in early October.
Hu said that the meeting reflects the "common will of the two countries
to improve bilateral relations."
The two countries agreed to build a "strategic relationship of mutual
interests" and foreign affairs departments will work on details of such a
relationship.
Hu called for more cultural and youth exchanges to increase friendship
between the two peoples so as to consolidate the foundation for bilateral
ties.
The Chinese President advocated drafting medium and long-term plans for
bilateral co-operation in sectors of trade, investment, information,
energy, environmental protection and finance.
Abe suggested starting ministerial-level meetings for economic and trade
co-operation as well as dialogue between energy departments of the two
countries to increase partnership in energy conservation and
environmental protection.
"President Hu adopted a very positive attitude towards Abe's proposal and
believes it is very helpful," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao after the meeting.
The two leaders also agreed to make joint efforts to promote peace,
stability and development in Northeast Asia and increase co-ordination in
pushing regional integration.
Hu cited history and Taiwan as "sensitive questions" concerning the
political basis for bilateral ties and called for them to be "appropriate
handled."
Abe noted that Japan will handle the question of Taiwan according to the
joint statement of the two sides, adhering the one-China policy and
opposing Taiwan "independence."
Both Hu and Abe expressed willingness to advance negotiations on the East
China Sea and make it an area of "peace, friendship and co-operation."
The two sides have a long-running row over development of natural
resources in a disputed area of the East China Sea. Hu said that they
should use negotiations and talks, put aside disputes and seek common
development.
During the meeting, Abe again extended an invitation for Hu to visit
Japan next year. Hu accepted the invitation, according to spokesman Liu.
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