Joint statement planned during Hu's visit

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Japanese and Chinese governments plan to release a political statement on achievements made during talks between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao during Hu's visit to Japan, expected to take place in May, government sources said.

Following the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, the 1978 Japan-China Peace and Amity Treaty and the 1998 Japan-China Joint Declaration, the two governments plan to make the summary of achievements in the Hu talks a fourth joint political statement.

The envisioned joint statement will spell out the two governments' determination to develop mutually beneficial strategic relations and declare that the two countries have entered a new stage that would facilitate international cooperation in East Asia, in addition to improving bilateral relations.

The government has entered the final stage of scheduling Hu's visit for early May, after Golden Week.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday that it would be appropriate to show the achievements and agreements reached at the Japan-China summit meeting in writing.

The new political statement will incorporate the determination to improve relations at the people's level in a wide range of fields, including politics, economics and culture.

The two governments also plan to work out a Japan-China relationship that can contribute to regional peace and security by dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and abduction of Japanese nationals, the Taiwan security issue and global problems, such as climate change.

Japan took notice of the joint statement issued in January by the leaders of China and India after their meeting that said China had shown understanding for India's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

As such, the government plans to ask China to declare similar understanding and support for Japan's bid for a permanent Security Council seat in the Japan-China joint political statement. However, the two countries have yet to find common ground on the joint development of gas fields in disputed areas claimed by both sides in the East China Sea.