Premier Urges to Draw Lessons From History in Sino-Japanese Ties

Zhu Reviews a Guard of Honor

Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Thursday reaffirmed the Chinese government's stance on the history of Japan's invasion of China during the Second World War, saying it is important to draw lessons from it and maintain peace to prevent its repetition.

"Our attitude towards this part of history is to take history as a mirror and look forward to the future, as was repeated by Chinese President Jiang Zemin on many occasions," Zhu said during talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at the latter's residence, with the presence of all members of the Japanese cabinet.

During President Jiang's visit to Japan in 1998, he and the late Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi helped orient the Sino-Japanese relations toward the 21st century in defining a cooperative partnership contributing to peace and development, said Zhu, who is on his first day of a six-day official visit here.

He noted that the Chinese leadership has always held the Japanese militarism responsible for Japan's invasion of China and viewed the Japanese people as victims too.

Premier Zhu praised the great progress made in the exchanges and cooperation in every field between China and Japan since the normalization of their relations in 1972.

He cited the Joint Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Japan, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between the People's Republic of China and Japan, and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration as among the important documents guiding the development of bilateral ties, which, he said, should continue to be strictly observed.

Some problems either old or new have arisen from the changed situation and affected Sino-Japanese ties from time to time, Zhu noted. And some remarks and activities by some Japanese on the issues of history, Taiwan and security have undermined the trust of the Chinese people towards Japan.

On the other hand, worries and doubts about China have appeared in Japan, with some Japanese people even considering China as a big threat.

To prevent the China-Japan friendship to be further harmed, he said, the statesmen of both countries should pay great attention to the new scenario, and deal with it properly and without delay. Zhu hoped his visit will clear up doubts, promote mutual trust in the political aspect and help expand economic cooperation.

The Japanese Prime Minister said Japan attached great importance to Zhu's visit -- an important one by a Chinese leader at the threshold of the new century.

Mori said that the joint statement signed by the two governments in 1972 has laid a sound foundation for the development of bilateral ties, adding that Japan's stance stated in the joint statement has never since changed.

As to some historical issues, Mori reiterated that the Japanese government adheres to the principle of admitting the truth and reflecting on the past, as made clear in the 1972 joint communique, the 1998 joint declaration and the formal speech by Japanese Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi in 1995.

The principle has been widely accepted by the Japanese people, he added.

Mori said he agreed that the two nations should promote the development of bilateral relations in the new century in line with the spirit of using history as a mirror and looking forward to the future, as President Jiang once told Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in Beijing.

To further strengthen mutual understanding, both sides agreed to hold more talks on bilateral security issues, to increase military exchanges and to exchange warship visits.