Defense Minister Meets Japanese GuestDefense Minister Chi Haotian met Tuesday with Yuji Fujinawa, chairman of the Council of Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Self-Defense Forces of Japan.Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a State Councilor, said that Sino-Japanese relations have maintained a good momentum. He referred to the state visit paid by Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 1998, and the visit to China by late Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi last year. He said that the secretaries-general of the three coalition parties of the Japanese government visited China and reaffirmed their aspirations to further relations between the two countries. He said that the Chinese side has paid much attention to developing exchanges with the defense department of Japan. The development of the Sino-Japanese relations conforms to the fundamental interest of the two peoples, and benefits regional and world peace and stability. On the problems existing between the two countries, Chi said that "past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future. " He hopes that the Japanese side would learn from history and contribute to world peace and stability. He also reaffirmed the Chinese government's stance on the Taiwan issue, and hopes that the Japanese side would follow the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan and the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement. Yuji Fujinawa said that the exchanges between Japan and China in defense is good, and the frequent exchange of visit between senior officials of the two countries promotes mutual understanding and trust. He said that Japan will take the problem left over by history sincerely, and commit to promote Sino-Japanese friendship and cooperation devoted to peace and development. |
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