Feature: Japanese PM Apologizes to Chinese People

Japanese PM Lays Wreath at War Memorial Hall

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In front of a huge statue of Chinese heroes during the war against Japanese aggression, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stood in silent tribute, bowed and laid a wreath to the statue.

The lament written in Chinese on the wreath to the statue at the entrance of the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is "may peace and friendship last for generations upon generations." Koizumi subsequently visited the memorial hall in southwest Beijing.

The prime minister told the press waiting outside the hall that he has again had a deep understanding of the misery of war through watching the exhibitions. He said that he offers heartfelt apology and condolences to the Chinese victims of (Japanese) aggression.

Koizumi headed for the Lugou (Marco Polo) Bridge and the Memorial Hall right after he arrived here for a one-day working visit. He met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji later in the day.

On July 7, 1937, Japanese military forces launched attacks against Chinese troops near the Lugou Bridge. The Chinese troops answered the provocation with a counterblow, marking the formal beginning of the Chinese people's heroic resistance against Japanese aggression.

Earlier this year, however, Japan took a series of negative moves on the history issue that resulted in a blow to China-Japan relations. On August 13 Koizumi paid a visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which has aroused strong indignation and opposition from Asian countries including China.

During the visit to the memorial hall, Koizumi watched various displayed relic items, including archives, guns, cannons, blood-stained clothes and pictures, which demonstrate the Japanese aggressors' atrocities to the Chinese people.

Statistics show that during the Japanese aggression of China, more than 35 million Chinese people died or were wounded and the loss incurred to China amounted to more than 600 billion U.S. dollars worth.

Upon the end of his visit, Koizumi wrote two Chinese characters "Zhong, Shu" on the visitor's book. He explained that the two characters were quoted from Chinese Confucian work -- The Analects, meaning sincerity and full respect to the feeling of the party concerned.

He said Japan should make introspection over its history of aggression and should never launch any war in the future, which will be the best consolation for those people who died during the war.

"As prime minister of Japan, I will do my best to develop Japan-China friendly relations in the future," he stressed.

Several local residents told Xinhua that they welcome the introspection and apology made by Koizumi.

"Japan should honor this presentation and appropriately handle the issue of its history of aggression through concrete acts,"

they said.