Hu meets Koizumi in Jakarta

cctv.com 04-26-2005 09:35

On the sidelines of the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Hu said China remains unchanged in its commitment to develop friendship and cooperation Japan, but called on Tokyo to face up to its war-time aggressions against China and other Asian countries.

President Hu Jintao briefed the press after his talks with Koizumi on Saturday, saying that China and Japan are both influential countries in Asia and the world. He said the current difficulties in the Sino-Japanese ties, if not solved in a proper and timely way, could be detrimental to both countries and would affect the stability and development in Asia.

Hu said: "This year marks the 60th anniversary of China's victory over Japanese invasion during World War II. But Japan's recent moves on its history and the Taiwan issue have seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and Asian countries. The strong reaction of the Chinese people and the concerns of people from other Asian countries are something that the Japanese side should seriously reflect on."

President Hu said the Chinese government has placed importance on relations with Japan. To try to break the current deadlock, the President said he had raised a 5-point proposal with Koizumi.

First, the principles of the three political documents between China and Japan must be strictly adhered to and concrete actions must be adopted to develop their friendship and cooperation in the 21st century.

Hu Jintao said the second point is to take history as a mirror and to look to the future. He said remorse expressed for Japan's invasion of China should be translated into action and no move should be made to offend the people of China or the people of other Asian countries.

Thirdly, the Taiwan issue should be correctly handled. It is hoped that the Japanese side will demonstrate through concrete action its adherence to the one-China policy and opposition to Taiwan independence.

Fourthly, both China and Japan should properly deal with their disputes through dialogue and equal consultation.

In his last point, President Hu said China and Japan need to expand cooperation and increase exchanges between the two peoples.

He said: "In general, it is hoped that both sides will make efforts to put Sino-Japanese relations on a healthy and stable development track."

Saturday's meeting came a day after Koizumi offered the most public apology in a decade for Japan's wartime aggression in Asia.

Koizumi said Japan is willing to push forward the friendship and cooperation with China on the basis of President Hu's 5-point proposal. On the issue of Japan's wartime history and the Taiwan question, Koizumi said the Japanese government remain unchanged in its commitment to the principles as stipulated in its three political documents with China.

Hu鈥檚 5-point proposal

1.Agreed principles governing bilateral ties must be strictly adhered to; concrete actions must be taken to develop friendship and cooperation.

2. Words of remorse for Japan's invasion of China should be translated into action.

3. The Taiwan issue should be handled correctly. Japan should take concrete action to demonstrate its adherence to the one-China policy.

4. China and Japan should properly deal with their disputes through dialogue and equal consultation.

5. China and Japan need to expand cooperation and exchanges in a wide range of fields and increase civil exchanges between the two nations.

Editor:Wang Ping  Source:CCTV.com