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Former Japanese PM Toshiki Kaifu on Sino-Japan Ties and China's WTO Entry
Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu accepted with pleasure the interview by People's Daily reporters when he learned that PD reporters ever reported his hometown and his political career.
Talking of the Sino-Japan relationship, which seems to be at the low tide since entering into the 21st century. Kaifu expressed that he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic. He said, "when I was elected Japanese Prime Minister in August, 1989, China and Japan's relationship was also faced with a severe test".
"I ever expressed at the first news conference that Japan and China's relationship should be further deepened, and later Japanese government decided to gradually resume Sino-Japan cooperation plan. In September the same year, Mr. Deng Xiaoping reiterated settlement of international political and economic problems on the five principles of peaceful co-existence, and pointed out that no matter what is going to happen the Sino-Japan friendship should not be changed. In 1991, Japan was the first from among western countries to resume economic cooperation with China, and in August the same year, I visited China in the name of Japanese Prime minister, and I delivered a speech on the New World and Sino-Japan Relationship in Sino-Japan Exchange Center in Beijing. In my address, I dealt with various difficulties overcome by the forerunners over the past 20 years for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972 and remarkable efforts had been made for its further development. I stressed that Sino-Japan relationship played a very big role not only in the relations of the two countries but is also of significance for the regional and world peace and stability. Especially after the cold war came to an end, Sino-Japan relation has witnessed a significant growth. In 1999, together with 2,500 Japanese people, I participated in a tree planting activity and I was proud to be one of them in an exchange activity of such scale. However, to my great surprise, the 2,500-tree-planter record was overtaken by last year's 5,000. Next year marks the 30th anniversary for the normalization of diplomatic relationship with China, I'm full of confidence that difficulties between China and Japan relationship can be overcome and development is sure to be achieved".
Talking about Asia and China's economy, Kaifu said that reviewing a decade's world economic growth, East Asia's proportion in the world economy has seen a rapid increase. For example, in 1980, the import volume in East Asia including Japan and China accounted for 15 percent of world import volume, but in the year 2000, the proportion increased to 20 percent. Direct investment was also focused on this region. This not only indicates that East Asia's economic growth rate is on the rise, but also shows that the region has made great contribution to the world's prosperity. In the past, Asia mainly relied on the US and other countries for support. Recent years have seen an increasing cooperation made among the countries in Asia and its role as world economic growth center or even world economic motive force has been enhanced. "The 21st century is an era for Asia" is an affirmative to the region's economic development and the region's internal interdependence. What is worth mentioning is that the strengthening of internal interdependence in the region does not come from the close-up of the region, instead it should be based on completely open to foreign trade and pursuance for high efficiency. This year, Japan imposed sanctions on three agricultural products imported from China, I think this is wrong, I hope this can be solved earlier. The aim of the APEC is to promote free trade and investment for flourishing the regional economy. China's accession to WTO is not only of great significance to China, Asia, but is also of importance to the world economy.
By PD Online Staff Li Yan
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