Sino-Japanese Ties Faces New Opportunities: Li Peng

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 04, 2002

Sino-Japanese Ties Faces New Opportunities: Li Peng

The development of Sino-Japanese relations faces new opportunities in the new century, said China's top legislator Li Peng on Wednesday. "There are a lot of opportunities to the growth of Sino-Japanese relations in the new century, and China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to further advance the bilateral relationship," Li said.

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China willing to make joint efforts for further relationship

The development of Sino-Japanese relations faces new opportunities in the new century, said China's top legislator Li Peng on Wednesday.

Li, chairman of China's People's National Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks during his talks with Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanki and House of Councilors President Yutaka Inoue.

"There are a lot of opportunities to the growth of Sino-Japanese relations in the new century, and China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to further advance the bilateral relationship," Li said.

Both China and Japan should make even greater efforts to add more substantial contents to such important relationship, he noted.

Li said that China's People's National Congress attached importance to the exchanges and cooperation with Japan's Diet as such exchanges constitute an important part in state-to-state relations.

Li on international China's domestic situation

On the international situation, Li said that certain complex and profound changes have taken place in the international arena.

"Peace and development remain the main themes of the current times," he said, adding that unilateralism and power politics run counter to the tide of the time and the aspiration of the people.

"The pursuit of peace, cooperation and development has become the common voice of the people worldwide," he said.

Li also briefed the two Diet leaders on China's domestic situation. China's admission into the World Trade Organization will make its links with countries worldwide, Asian nations in particular, closer than ever, he said.

Both China and Japan, also two close neighbors, are important nations in Asia so the cooperation between the two countries will promote the regional cooperation, he said.

Both agreed to strengthen cooperation

China is willing to make concerted efforts with Japan for the revitalization and prosperity of Asia, he said.

Watanki and Inoue agreed with Li's view and pledged to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Japan's Diet and China's NPC.

Watanki said that the exchanges and cooperation between Japan'sDiet (parliament) and China's People's National Congress play an important role in enhancing the bilateral relations.

Inoue told Li that apart from cooperation in the economy and trade, China and Japan should further develop cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science to comprehensively enhance bilateral relationship.

Bilateral Relations between China and Japan

Political Relationship: Date of Normalization of Sino-Japanese Relations: September 29,1972.

At present, the Sino-Japanese relations have, on the whole, witnessed smooth development. The friendly exchanges and mutually beneficiary cooperation in various areas have made constant progress, which have not only brought about significant interests to the two countries, but also made positive contributions to the regional peace, stability and development and the world as well.

Bilateral Trade: Japan is our greatest trade partner, while China remains as the second biggest to Japan. The bilateral trade volume in 1997 amounted to 60.8 billion US dollars, a record high in history. In 1998, the total volume of Sino-Japanese trade was 57.89 billion US dollars, decreased by 4.8% compared with that of the previous year. The export volume to Japan was 29.69 billion US dollars against an import of 28.2 billion dollars, enjoying a trade surplus of 1.5 billion US dollars, 47.7% lower than that of the previous year. >>more information

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