Japan defense minister to visit China

(Xinhua/China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-19 10:49

TOKYO -- Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Thursday that he will start a two-day visit to China Friday.

This February 17, 2009 file photo shows Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada (R) shaking hands with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo. Hamada said Thursday that he will start a two-day visit to China Friday. [Agencies]

During his stay in China, Hamada will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie.

"We will have a frank exchange of opinions on each other's defense policies, regional affairs and future defense exchanges," Hamada told reporters.

It will be the first visit by Japan's defense chief since 2003 when Shigeru Ishiba visited China as director general of the then Defense Agency.

China and Japan are still discussing the date of Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's planned visit to the mainland, China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, dismissing reports that China had requested a delay "due to a territorial dispute".

Beijing had lodged harsh protests with Tokyo after Aso remarked last month that China's Diaoyu Islands were part of Japanese territory, and hence covered by the US-Japan security treaty.

Also on Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said in Tokyo, "It has become difficult for the prime minister to visit (China) in March."

However Nakasone stressed that both sides "remain committed to meeting soon."