Harmonious Ties Conducive to China, Japan: Li Peng

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

Harmonious Ties Conducive to China, Japan: Li Peng

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Two countries normalized diplomatic ties in 1972

The harmonious growth of ties between China and Japan is conducive to both and such experience has been proven by facts during the past 30 years after the two normalized diplomatic ties, said China's top legislator Li Peng on Wednesday.

Li, chairman of China's National People's 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.

China and Japan normalized their diplomatic ties in 1972.

Li hoped cultural exchanges can boost bilateral relations

Li, who was on a week-long visit to Japan as guest of Japanese Diet leaders, attended the opening reception of the Chinese Cultural Year in Japan and the Japanese Cultural Year in China, a key cultural event marking the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties.

Li hoped that such cultural exchange activities will make people in both countries to commemorate the contribution of the older generations while educating young people for a better Sino-Japanese understanding, friendship and trust.

The bilateral ties have been advancing forward in the past three decades though there were turns and twists, he said, adding that such cooperation brought tremendous benefits to both sides.

Smooth development needs observation of principles

The key to the smooth development of bilateral relations is to observe the principles set forth in the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, Sino-Japanese Treaty for Peace and Friendship and the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, Li said.

The two sides should adhere to the spirit of drawing the lessons from the history and looking forward to the future so as to ensure the smooth development of bilateral relations.

Li also mentioned the history textbook issue, saying that the two sides have the responsibility to educate the young people with correct concepts of history. Only by learning from history can young people open a new chapter in the future, Li said.

The Japanese government last year adopted the history textbooks, which contain contents to distort the historic facts of Japanese past aggressions against the Asian countries during World War II.

Watanki and Inoue, on their part, pledged to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between Japan's Diet and China's NPC to further enhance bilateral ties.

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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