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Premier Wen Jiabao welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in Beijing on Sunday. (Wu Zhiyi / China Daily) |
BEIJING - A stable Korean Peninsula is in the interests of both China and Japan, prime ministers of both countries said on Sunday, amid signs of political and financial cooperation as Japan seeks to buy Chinese government bonds.
The determination expressed by the two leaders on the peninsula issue is "an achievement" as the death of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-il created uncertainty in Northeast Asia, experts said.
Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda made the call for stability during talks at the Great Hall of the People.
Noda kicked off his overnight China visit on Sunday noon, making him the first foreign leader to visit China after Kim's death was announced on Dec 19. This is also Noda's first official visit to China since he came to power in September.
"Kim Jong-il passed away, so we are currently facing a new situation in East Asia," Noda told Wen at the start of the talks.