Japan Speaks Highly of Chinese Premier's VisitJapanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said Friday in Seoul that Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to his country has enhanced understanding and cooperation between Japan and China.While meeting his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, Kono said Zhu's visit was very successful at the turn of the century and all walks of life in Japan praised the visit. Both Tang and Kono are here attending the third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that began Friday. Japan attaches great importance to coordination between the two countries in regional economic cooperation, hoping that the forthcoming meeting among leaders from Japan, China and South Korea will be successful, Kono said. The Japanese minister added that Japan will make continued efforts for China's early entry into the World Trade Organization. Tang said Zhu's trip to Japan has deepened mutual political understanding and confidence, and made it clear that economic cooperation between the two countries should be expanded in the future. Unanimously agreeing to strengthen cooperation in regional and international affairs, the two sides should quickly carry out the agreements reached during Chinese President Jiang Zeming's tour to Japan in 1998 and work for the friendly and cooperative partnership between the two nations, he said. Tang also reiterated China's policy on the Taiwan issue and Kono promised that Japan will continue to handle issues concerning Taiwan in accordance with the 1972 Japanese-Chinese Joint Statement. |
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