Premier Wen plays baseball with Japanese PM

Source: Xinhua | 12-29-2007 11:44

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao played baseball with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Saturday morning, following Friday's "heart-to-heart" talks in which they foresaw a coming spring of the China-Japan ties.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda pose for a photo during playing baseball at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on Dec. 29, 2007. Yasuo Fukuda arrived here for an official visit to China from Dec. 27 to 30. (Xinhua Photo)

Wen and Fukuda had breakfast together ahead of the baseball play at the Diaoyutai State Guest House.

Wearing a red baseball cap and grey sport wear, Wen played a game of throw and catch with Fukuda, a former university athlete, who wore white outfits.

The play was not on Fukuda's tight visit schedule, but an extempore arrangement after Friday's talks between Wen and the Japanese Prime Minister, according to sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Fukuda recalled during the talks that he proposed to play baseball with the Chinese premier after Wen's visit to Japan in April, but had not received reply.