Japan and China need to push joint projects, multilevel exchanges
(From The Japan Times May 2 issue)

日中の戦略的互恵関係発展を目指して

Prime Minister Taro Aso met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on April 29 to 30. His visit to China came after he made an offering to Yasukuni Shrine, Japan's war shrine. Although the Chinese side took up this sensitive issue, it managed to restrain itself and both sides concentrated on more pressing issues.

Swine flu topped the agenda now that infections have been confirmed in more than 10 countries. The leaders agreed to cooperate to prevent the spread of swine flu, which is at risk of becoming a pandemic now that human-to-human transmission has been confirmed. They also agreed to cooperate closely for early resumption of six-party talks in order to discuss the denuclearization of North Korea.

Despite agreeing to resume the six-party talks, Mr. Hu and Mr. Wen called for a coolheaded approach to North Korea. But China, which has close ties with North Korea, should exert its influence to persuade Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks. After the United Nations Security Council condemned North Korea's April 5 rocket launch, Pyongyang said it was pulling out of the six-party talks and threatened April 29 to carry out nuclear tests.

Although the Chinese did not push the Yasukuni issue very far, Mr. Wen said that the history-related issue is sensitive and expressed a hope that Japan will handle it properly. Mr. Aso needs to pay appropriate attention to the Yasukuni issue because it is one that can chill the bilateral relations. He has to remember that Yasukuni Shrine served as an ideological vehicle of Japan's militarism.

Mr. Hu also said that it is important for China and Japan to develop a mutually beneficial strategic relationship. To build such a relationship, both nations need to push joint projects in various fields, and promote multilevel exchanges between Japanese and Chinese people. It is hoped that technical cooperation in the fields of the environment and energy saving, and in youth exchanges in the fields of culture, education and the economy will be developed further.

麻生首相は中国を公式訪問し、胡錦濤国家主席、温家宝首相と会談した。首相の訪中前の靖国奉納について中国側は敏感な問題だと述べたものの、協議は当面する課題に終始した。

日中首脳は、新型インフルエンザ感染予防の強化や北朝鮮非核化を目指した6カ国協議早期再開に向けて、協力を申し合わせた。北朝鮮に大きな影響力を持つ中国は6カ国協議復帰を促すべきだ。

靖国問題に関して温首相は、日本の適切な処理を望むと述べた。靖国問題は二国間関係を悪化させる可能性があることを、麻生首相は十分認識すべきだ。胡国家主席は、二国間の戦略的互恵関係の推進を求めた。環境･省エネの技術協力や文化、教育、経済分野の若者の活発な交流が望まれる。