Joint communique: Sino-Japanese relations of top priority

Source: Xinhuanet

10-09-2006 08:51

BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan have agreed that bilateral relations are one of the most important diplomatic priorities for both countries, according to a joint press communique issued Sunday.

The communique was issued as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abebegan a visit to Beijing.

Both sides agreed to make efforts to build a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests and to realize the goals of peaceful co-existence, friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, the communique says.

Sustaining the healthy and stable development of Sino-Japanese relations was in the fundamental interests of both countries. The two countries shared the responsibility to jointly and constructively contribute to the peace, stability and development of Asia and the world, it says.

Abe is on a two-day official visit to China. He met with President Hu Jintao and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao.

Both sides believed that since the normalization of bilateral relations 34 years ago, China and Japan had continuously expanded and deepened exchanges and cooperation as inter-dependence grew, says the communique.

The two governments agreed to continue to abide by the principles of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration. They agreed to squarely face history and be oriented to the future, it says.

They agreed to properly deal with problems affecting the development of relations and to promote bilateral relations through expanding both political and economic links.

Both sides believed that contact and dialogue between their leaders were significant for the healthy development of relations.

The Japanese side invited Chinese leaders to visit Japan, for which the Chinese side expressed gratitude and consent in principle. They agreed to further discuss the issue through diplomatic channels and to hold frequent talks on occasions of international meetings, the communique says.

The Chinese side emphasized the peaceful development of China, which would work with other countries, including Japan, to pursue common development and prosperity.

The communique says the Japanese side commented positively on China's pursuit of peaceful development and the huge opportunities it had brought to the international community, including Japan, since it began to reform and open to the outside world.

The Japanese side stressed that Japan had been pursuing, and would continue to pursue, the route of a peaceful country since the end of the World War II more than 60 years ago. The Chinese side commented positively on this.

In order to make East China Sea "sea of peace, cooperation and friendship", both sides agreed to speed up consultation and settle relevant disputes through dialogues and consultations, the communique says.

The two countries also pledge to deepen mutual-beneficial cooperation in the pivotal areas such as energy, environmental protection, finance, information technology and the protection of intellectual property rights.

According to the communique, scholars of the two countries will start joint research of the history within this year.

China and Japan will also promote ministerial-level dialogues in the economic field, and enhance mutual trust in the security field through security dialogues and defense exchanges.

As the year 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan ties, both sides vow to take the chance to increase friendly feelings between the two peoples through holding China-Japan Year of Culture and Sports as well as youth exchanges, the communique says.

The two countries also agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues.

The communique says they are "deeply concerned" over the situation on the Korean Peninsula including the nuclear test plan of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Both of them expressed willingness to work with other parties concerned to promote the process of the six-party talks, and dedicate to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it says.

Besides, the two countries vow to strengthen coordination on east Asian cooperation and the cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and jointly promote east Asian integration.

According to the communique, both countries are in favor of "necessary" and "reasonable" reform of the United Nations including its Security Council.

Editor:Sun Luying