FM: Bush-Abe summit must "take right path"

Source: China Daily | 04-27-2007 15:41

Beijing hopes the Bush-Abe summit will come to correct conclusions on issues concerning China if they are on the agenda.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said this yesterday in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's first visit to the United States since taking office.

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The leaders of the two major powers are expected to reaffirm and strengthen their bilateral security alliance and cooperation in global affairs.

Washington had earlier expressed its interest in supplying next-generation fighter aircraft to Japan, and Liu said China had noted the reports and hoped "such an arrangement will not impose a negative impact on the Northeast Asian region".

On whether Chinese individuals, including people who underwent forced labor in Japan during World War II, have the right to demand war reparations from Japan, Liu said this was a serious political issue.

The Japanese Supreme Court will give judgement today on whether China has given up an individual's right to seek reparation under post-war agreements such as the 1972 China-Japan Joint Communique in which the Chinese government abandoned its right to do so.

Liu said the joint communique is the diplomatic document as well as the political foundation for the improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations.

"Neither side can give a unilateral explanation, including a judicial explanation, of the document," Liu said, saying the Japanese side should abide by such a principle.

He said forced labor is one of the wartime atrocities, and urged the Japanese government to take responsibility and solve the issue in a proper way.

FDA inspection

Liu said that China had invited US inspectors to help with investigations into the possible contamination of pet food exports.

The United States has said that wheat gluten contaminated with melamine was exported to the US from China and was used in pet food that has been linked to the deaths of more than a dozen cats and dogs in the US.

Liu said China has attached great importance to the case and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has sent invitations to officials of the US Food and Drug Administration to visit China.

"They will come to China to exchange ideas and consult on inspection techniques. China will cooperate on this," Liu said.