Abe to mend ties in 1st overseas visit
(Xinhua/bloomberg)
Updated: 2006-10-06 08:56 Japan, China closely-related
Abe said on Thursday that Japan and China
are close-related and strengthening bilateral political ties is beneficial to
regional and global peace.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Finance
Minister Koji Omi attend the Lower House Budget Committee in Tokyo October
5, 2006. [Reuters] |
Abe said during a session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee
that Japan's relations with China and South Korea are both closely related and
inseparable.
Japan's economy is "inseparable" from these bilateral ties, and efforts
should be made to build "relations of trust" in economic and other areas, he
said.
He said frank exchanges of views, goals and ideals are the first step in
building the "relations of trust."
Abe, who took office on Sept. 26, will pay an official visit to China on Oct.
8-9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced on Wednesday.
When answering a question about Japan's responsibility on launching the
Asia-Pacific War, Abe said that "As a result of starting war, we left many scars
on the people of Asia. Including my grandfather (former Prime Minister Nobusuke
Kishi), the leaders had great responsibility. Since politicians have to take
responsibility for any outcomes, that decision certainly was
wrong."
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