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Zhu Rongji's East Asia Visit Described as Successful
"Practical,'' "smooth'' and "successful'' were the words Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan used to sum up Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to Japan and the Republic of Korea and his participation in the Third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM III). Tang said on Saturday that the Chinese premier's formal visit to two of its close neighbours in East Asia was an important diplomatic mission.
During his visit, Zhu held formal talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Korean President Kim Dae-jung, and made extensive contacts with government officials and non-governmental organizations. The leaders conducted frank and profound exchanges on views on the development of bilateral relations, and reached a common understanding, according to Tang.
Zhu also attended ASEM III in Seoul, from October 20 to 21, where he put forward suggestions on how to carry forward co-operation between the two continents.
Tang said Zhu's visit to Japan was to promote mutual understanding, dispel doubts, deepen co-operation and propel forward bilateral partnerships dedicated to peace and development.
Tang rounded the achievements of the Japan visit into three categories:
Firstly, the visit consolidated the political basis of bilateral relations. The Chinese premier expounded China's policies on developing Sino-Japanese ties, and emphasized that the two countries should adhere to the general direction of a good-neighbourly friendship based on the principles laid down in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the 1978 Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the 1998 Sino-Japanese Declaration.
Mori and leaders of major Japanese parties made positive responses to this, and stressed that China is Japan's most important neighbour and friendship between the two is fundamental to bilateral relations, Tang said.
Zhu pointed out that the key to safeguarding political understanding is the proper handling of issues concerning history and Taiwan.
He said China has always held a principle of "using history as a mirror so as to develop a far-sighted perspective of the future'' in dealing with historical issues.
Any attempt, however, to evade, pettify or distort historical facts is wrong, Zhu said, adding he hoped Japan would handle historical issues properly, draw lessons from past and stick to a path of peaceful development.
The Japanese side agreed with Zhu's comments, Tang said, and this common understanding will help solve historical issues between the two countries in the future.
Secondly, the visit increased mutual understanding. Zhu told his hosts that the foundations of Sino-Japanese relations are good, but problems do exist. He stressed repeatedly the importance and urgency of the two sides to enhance mutual understanding and increase mutual trust, and put forward suggestions accordingly.
Both sides agreed to open a hotline between the two governments, strengthen and expand bilateral dialogue on security issues, and realize mutual visits of naval warships.
Paying great attention to people-to-people contacts, especially among the young, Zhu met with ordinary Japanese people when he was interviewed by the Tokyo Broadcasting System, and won a warm response from the Japanese public.
With regard to Japan's suspicions of China, Zhu listed facts and figures to explain that China cannot, and will not constitute a threat to Japan, and Sino-Japanese friendship is in the fundamental interests of both nations.
Thirdly, the visit promoted co-operation on the basis of mutual benefit. Zhu laid out several priority areas for future co-operation and promised to take actions to improve China's investment conditions. Japan pledged to expand and deepen its co-operation with China on the development of the latter's vast western regions, environmental protection, ecological balance and scientific research and development.
Zhu's visit to the ROK came at a time when the situation on the Korean Peninsula had taken on a dramatic turn. He expressed China's firm backing of the rapproachment between the south and the north, and reiterated that China supports the two sides in realizing peaceful reunification independently.
The Chinese Government welcomes the north's hopes to improve its ties with the United States, and promised to continue its efforts to establish a peace mechanism on the peninsula through four-party talks between China, United States and the two sides of the peninsula.
Both sides agreed to build on the momentum of co-operation gained since the establishment of diplomatic relations eight years ago, and propel their partnership into a new stage of comprehensive co-operation.
Zhu invited Korean businesses to take part in the development of western China, and listed environmental protection, scientific research, electronics, and petrochemical, iron and steel and energy development as priority areas for further economic co-operation.
The two sides agreed to establish an investment promotion mechanism and an economic co-operation institute.
Zhu urged Korea to take concrete measures to cut its growing trade surplus with China, and Korea promised to import more from China, including agricultural products.
During the Third Asia-Europe Meeting, Zhu proposed building the ASEM into a model of co-operation among continents, and suggested that ASEM partners strengthen collaboration on economic, scientific, environmental and human resources development.
The Chinese proposal of holding an environment ministers' meeting and a symposium on the co-operation of law enforcement organs' in combating transnational crime were adopted in the Chairman's statement. [Source: chinadaily.com.cn]
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