Home>News Center>China
       
 

Japanese FM kicks off China visit
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-04-03 15:34

Japanese Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko arrived in Beijing Saturday noon for a 25-hour visit.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is expected to meet with her Saturday afternoon. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Kawaguchi's Chinese host, will hold official talks with Kawaguchi and her delegation.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet with Kawaguchi Sunday before her departure.

Amidst a number of disputes and clashes, the visit is described as "tough" by Japanese media.

History issue and the dispute on the Diaoyu Islands, a piece of Chinese territory, will definitely be brought in the talks between the two sides.

Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro's repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine enraged Chinese and other Asian people deeply hurt by Japanese militarists during the World War II. The shrine honors convicted Japanese Class-A war criminals.

The Japanese leaders' visits to the shrine are a reflection of the Japanese government's stance and attitude towards the war, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a regular press conference on Thursday.

In regard to the Diaoyu Islands issue, Kong said the Diaoyu Island and the attached islets have been a part of the Chinese territory since ancient times and China has indisputable sovereignty over these islands.

China and Japan have differences on the Diaoyu Islands issue, and China has insisted on solving it through peaceful negotiations, Kong said.

As two major countries in Asia, China and Japan have enjoyed long-term friendship and the two countries have a lot in common in many issues, said Kong.

"Bilateral cooperation will contribute to the benefits of the two peoples and the promotion of peace and stability in the region, " he said.

 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Senior gov't official defends suit in court

 

   
 

NPC reviews HK Basic Law interpretations

 

   
 

US to fingerprint more foreign visitors

 

   
 

Taiwan recount still up in air

 

   
 

Sharon says Araft is 'a marked man'

 

   
 

100 homeless after metro site collapse

 

   
  Senior gov't official defends suit in court
   
  Taiwan recount still up in air
   
  Sharon says Araft is 'a marked man'
   
  100 homeless after metro site collapse
   
  NPC reviews HK Basic Law interpretations
   
  IPR protection for 2008 Games stressed
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Seven Diaoyu activists return home
   
Japan govt told to compensate Chinese WW2 workers
  News Talk  
  Sex Education, a necessary evil?  
Advertisement