China sets tough conditions for Japan

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While both Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said they shared the same convictions about the need to maintain strong and peaceful relations between the two countries, Beijing set five requirements on Saturday for improved relations between the two Asian giants.

To demonstrate the importance of his meeting with Koizumi, the president himself spoke to the press about the results of the talks. Originally, a Chinese senior official was to speak to the media.

Separately, Koizumi also directly briefed the media about the much-awaited bilateral summit, which he described as "a good meeting".

"I have just had a meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi. We exchanged views over relations between China and Japan. Currently, Sino-Japanese relations face a difficult situation. Such difficult relations are not something we wish for," said Hu after meeting with Koizumi at the Mulia Hotel, where the former is staying during the Asian-African Summit.

Koizumi, who is staying in a different hotel, visited the Chinese president. Japanese officials said that based on protocol, as a head of government Koizumi has a lower ranking to Hu, who is a head of state.

The two are among the leaders of 89 Asian and African nations taking part in the summit, which it is hoped will be able to recreate the spirit of the original conference, which was hosted by Indonesia in 1955. They will be attending the golden jubilee commemoration of the original meeting in Bandung on Sunday.

At the start of the bilateral talks, Koizumi was seen smiling, although Hu appeared cool.

Koizumi said the two countries should strictly refrain from agitating sentiments and emphasized the importance of looking to the future.

"I believe that both of us should take to heart very firmly this awareness and strive to further promote friendly ties between the two countries," said Koizumi.

According to Hu, China and Japan are both countries with significant influence in Asia and also in the world. If serious problems occurred in this relationship and such serious problems could not be resolved timely and appropriately, it would be detrimental for both China and Japan, and it would also affect development in Asia.

"I recalled last November in Santiago. I had a frank discussion with Prime Minister Koizumi over the relationship between China and Japan. Back then, I emphasized in particular that this year will mark the 60th anniversary of the victory of the anti-Nazi movement and the Chinese people's resistance war against Japanese aggression.

"We hope that in this important and sensitive year, Japan will handle appropriately such a serious and sensitive issue so as to ensure the healthy and stable development of Sino-Japanese relations," said the Chinese leader.

Hu was referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last November.

However, added Hu, some moves by the Japanese side as regards the history of the war were clearly in breach of Japan's own commitment. They were offensive to the Chinese people and the people of other Asian countries, he said.

Given the current circumstances and in order to take concrete measures to overcome the difficult situation in Sino-Japanese relations, he said he had presented five proposals to Koizumi:

First, the two sides should strictly abide by the principle and the spirit of the Sino-Japanese joint statement, treaty of peace and friendship and the Sino-Japanese joint declaration. Concrete action should be taken to develop friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries oriented toward the 21st century.

Second, the principle of taking history as a mirror and looking toward the future should be adhered to: remorse for a war of aggression should be translated into action and no moves should be made to offend the people of China and the people of other countries.

Third, the question of Taiwan should be correctly handled. It was hoped that the Japanese side would demonstrate concrete action in adherence to the one-China policy and opposition to Taiwanese independence.

Fourth, the differences between China and Japan should be appropriately handled on the basis of dialogue and consultation on an equal voting.

Fifth, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in broader areas should be expanded. Exchanges involving the people of the two countries should be increased.

Despite his tough demands, the President nevertheless emphasized that, "despite many difficulties in this relationship, the policy of the Chinese side in maintaining and developing friendly relations and cooperation with Japan remains unchanged."