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Japan, China Mark 50-Year Ties 09/29 06:13
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan and China marked the 50th anniversary of normalization
of their ties Thursday as their leaders Fumio Kishida and Xi Jinping stressed
the importance of their strengthened relationship over the decades, though they
still face difficulties.
On Sept. 29, 1972, then-Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and Chinese Premier
Zhou Enlai signed a communique normalizing their ties and pledging peace and
friendship. In the communique, Japan expressed remorse over wartime damage on
China and acknowledged Beijing as the country's only legitimate government.
Despite the milestone, the ceremony lacks a celebratory mood as the two
countries remain at odds over disputed East China Sea islands and China's
growing military and economic influence in the region.
Japan considers China a security threat and is promoting security and trade
frameworks with the United States and other democracies as a counter to
Beijing's growing influence. China's escalating tension around Taiwan is also a
growing concern.
While Japan-China relations today have a variety of possibilities, they face
a number of issues and concerns, Kishida said in a message to Xi, which was
shown on a big screen at a ceremony sponsored by Japanese influential business
organizations and friendship groups and held at a Tokyo hotel.
Kishida said he hoped to develop "constructive and stable relations" with
China to fulfil a responsibility they share as major powers in contributing to
regional and global peace and stability, looking ahead the next 50 years of
their ties.
He said it is important to remember their starting point 50 years ago when
the normalization was achieved.
Later Thursday, Kishida told reporters that he has no concrete plan to hold
a summit with Xi, but "I hope to steadily carry on dialogues on issues
including matters of our concern, while we insist on what we must insist."
Xi, in his message sent to Kishida, said normalization of their ties in 1972
opened "a new chapter" in bilateral relations and the two countries have since
deepened exchanges and cooperation, bringing welfare to both peoples and peace
and development to the region and the world.
He said he attaches "great importance" to the development of their ties and
is willing to work with Kishida "to build a China-Japan relationship that meets
the requirements of the new era."
China's Ambassador to Japan, speaking in fluent Japanese at the reception,
noted "ups and downs," and said the Japan-China relationship stands at a new
historic starting line and an important turning point.
"Both of us need to seriously think about where we should head for in the
next 50 years," Kong Xuanyou said in fluent Japanese. He said the two sides
must build "political trust" and cooperate toward building a "win-win"
relationship and pursue friendship "while managing contradictions and problems."
Despite political difficulty, economic relations between the two countries
have boomed over the past half-century. China is Japan's biggest trade partner.
Masakazu Tokura, chair of Japan Business Federation -- a powerful business
organization known as Keidanren and a host of Thursday's reception -- said the
relationship with China is one of the most important bilateral relationships
for Japan, especially the economic ties.
"In order to further strengthen the economic ties, constructive and stable
political and diplomatic relations are extremely important," Tokura said.
A reception marking the anniversary was also held in Beijing at the
Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
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