Visit to Japan

FM: Wen's trip deepens China-Japan-S Korea co-op

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-23 09:30

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's concluded trip to Japan, during which he attended the fourth China-Japan-South Korea summit, has significantly boosted tripartite cooperation and regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Sunday.

Yang, who accompanied Wen during his visit on Saturday and Sunday, told reporters that the two-day trip has further boosted cooperation in East Asia, consolidated popular support for China-Japan friendship, enriched the contents of China-Japan and China-South Korea partnerships, and is of great and profound significance for maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Yang said the trip was practical, effective, productive and a complete success.

Deepening trilateral cooperation

The trip has deepened trilateral practical cooperation in various fields, Yang said.

Wen, at the trilateral summit held in Tokyo on Sunday and attended by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, put forward a seven-point proposal for the three countries to widen cooperation.

First, efforts should be made to support Japan's post-quake reconstruction.

Second, the three countries should attach great importance to nuclear safety and strictly implement the consensus reached.

Third, the three countries should promote practical cooperation on disaster prevention and reduction.

Fourth, they should promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment among them, push forward integration of regional economy, and try to start negotiations on a tripartite free trade zone next year.

Fifth, they should vigorously develop renewable energy and popularize energy-saving technology.

Sixth, they should speed up construction of demonstration bases for circular economy in order to promote rational use of resources, protect the environment and realize sustainable development.

Seventh, they should boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Premier Wen's proposal was applauded by Japanese Prime Minister Kan and South Korean President Lee.

The three leaders, in a joint declaration issued after the summit, said they would deepen the future-oriented comprehensive cooperative partnership among the three countries.

They also agreed to cooperate on disaster management, nuclear safety, economic growth, sustainable development and cultural affairs.

Enhancing China-Japan friendship, boosting bilateral ties

As close neighbors and important countries in the world, China and Japan have broad common interests, Yang said.

China and Japan will mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, and China highly values its ties with Japan and regards Japan as its important cooperation partner, he said.

When Japan was hit by a devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake on March 11 and ensuing disasters, the Chinese government and various circles expressed sympathies and support in many ways, said Yang.

After his arrival in Japan, the Chinese premier rushed to the coastal town of Natori and the city of Fukushima, which were respectively hit by the quake and tsunami and radiation leak, to express deep condolences.

Wen stressed that China-Japan friendship is built on the foundation of positive feelings among the two peoples. He believed that, with joint efforts, China-Japan ties will constantly improve. Such a development conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is conducive to peace and development of Asia and the world.

The Japanese public was deeply touched and encouraged by Wen's visit to the disaster-stricken areas, believing that Wen showed China's sincerity with concrete action, and hoping China-Japan friendship will last generation after generation, Yang said.

Premier Wen also told reporters on various occasions that China supports Japan's disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts. He also expounded China's stance on further promoting mutual beneficial strategic ties between the two countries.