Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Sunday in Copenhagen that China and Japan had made noticeable progress in bilateral ties since their diplomatic normalization 30 years ago, but he urged Japan to be cautious about its attitude toward historic issues between the two countries.
Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the eve of the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on Monday and Tuesday, Zhu said Chinese President Jiang Zemin made a speech earlier in the day summing up both positive and negative experiences and lessons in history of Sino-Japanese relations.
Jiang fully confirmed that lasting peace and friendship between China and Japan conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and the growth of Sino-Japanese good-neighborly relations contribute to regional and global peace and development, Zhu said.
President Jiang made these remarks at a grand gathering in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday evening to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations. The gathering was attended by more than 13,000 people from Japan.
Zhu also hoped Japan will fully realize that it must be cautious about its attitude towards China over historical questions because it may hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.
At the meeting, Koizumi said it is very important to face with historical questions and to properly solve practical problems in developing Sino-Japanese relations. The Japanese prime minister hoped that the two neighbors will be able to enhance their cooperation further in various fields through the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic normalization between the two countries.
( September 23, 2002)
