Japanese and Chinese leaders pledge warmer ties in first Tokyo summit in a decade
TOKYO (AP) -- The leaders of Japan and China called for a new era in relations at a summit Wednesday, pledging to hold annual meetings, resolve an angry dispute over maritime gas deposits and not allow their bitter history to divide them.
The carefully choreographed summit between Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao -- the first visit by a Chinese president to Tokyo in a decade -- was aimed at bolstering ties between the Asian giants.
The two also discussed China's contentious handling of protests in Tibet. Fukuda praised Beijing for agreeing to meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader. "We see the talks as a first step. We take them seriously," said Hu, adding that it was important for both sides to avoid "separatism, violence and obstructions to the success of the Olympics."
Fukuda also said he hoped for a successful Beijing Olympics, recalling the 1964 summer games in Tokyo that marked Japan's emergence on the world stage after its defeat in World War II. Fukuda, however, said he had not decided whether to attend the opening ceremony.
"The world is watching. We hope the Chinese government and people realize this and that people will be able to watch the games with pleasure," he said.
Protests that earlier dogged China's international Olympic torch relay continued as hundreds of demonstrators in Japan marched against China's policy in Tibet and thousands of riot police were mobilized to ensure Hu's safety.
Fukuda also said the countries were on the verge of a resolution of a thorny dispute over the exploitation of natural gas fields in the East China Sea. China is tapping the fields, but Japan says they should be jointly developed.
"We believe a breakthrough may now be possible," he said, without giving further details.
Hu and Fukuda, hoping to underscore the positive during his five-day stay, were to use pingpong and pandas to take the edge off more contentious problems.
Hu said China was willing to loan a couple of pandas to Japan following the death last week of 22-year-old giant panda Ling Ling at Tokyo's largest zoo.
They announced the holding of annual summits, and repeatedly called for a new period of warm, future-oriented relations.
"We agree that cooperating toward long-term peace and friendship is of utmost importance," they said in a joint statement released after the summit.
The visit is intended to build on a recent warming in relations after years of friction over disputed borders, Japan's treatment of its wartime invasion of China, anti-Japanese protests in China, and general Japanese unease over Beijing's rapidly growing diplomatic, military and economic power.
Hu is hoping the visit will project China as a friendly, good neighbor.
Bilateral ties began unraveling in 1998 when then Chinese President Jiang Zemin went to Tokyo expecting -- but not receiving -- an apology over Japan's often brutal 1931-1945 occupation of much of China. Relations chilled as Japan charted a more aggressive defense and foreign policy course, even as other countries in the region began to accommodate China's rising clout.
However, economic ties between the two have thrived. Trade reached $237 billion last year, according to Chinese statistics.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
