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Leaders push for integration
By Wu Jiao and Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-14 07:43
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WASHINGTON - Beijing and Tokyo vowed to work together for further development of their mutually beneficial relationship, a pledge analysts said would bring more opportunities for future cooperation.
 President Hu Jintao meets Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Monday. [China News Service] |
President Hu Jintao on Monday held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
During the meeting, Hu told Hatoyama that "China is willing to strengthen dialogue and coordination with Japan and work together to push forward cooperation on regional trade, finance and infrastructure, and to push forward concrete steps in the construction of Asian integration."
China and Japan reached a deal in June 2008 to end a dispute over the gas fields in the East China Sea. However, due to the different interpretations, some Japanese reports have accused China of violating the agreements.
Hu told Hatoyama that "China's commitment to the June 2008 deal remains firm and unchanged," and Hatoyama expressed a willingness to implement the principles of the East China Sea agreement.
Hatoyama also voiced appreciation for China's recent arrest of a factory worker accused of poisoning frozen dumplings destined for Japan.
The two leaders discussed the latest developments on nuclear issues concerning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and expressed hope that their mutual neighbor would return to the six-nation talks on ending its nuclear program.
Hatoyama is expected to visit China on June 12, "Japan Day" at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
Observers say the Democratic Party of Japan has taken steps to smooth relations with its Asian neighbors and focus more on its ties with China, Japan's largest trading partner.
Yang Bojiang, a senior researcher on Japanese studies with China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said frequent contact between the leaders of Asia's two largest economies would help maintain good momentum in the steadily improving bilateral ties.
The Asian market is the major engine that will help Japan walk out of the economic crisis, Yang said.
However, he warned that despite improved ties, Japan's movement on its security policy might be the most critical uncertain factor in bilateral relations.
China Daily
