Trade policy toward Japan unchanged (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-04-22 19:09
Minister of Commerce, Bo Xilai, said recently that China's trade policy to
Japan is unchanged and the Chinese government holds an positive attitude toward
enforcing China-Japan economic and trade cooperation.
Bo said in an interview with local press that in the era of economic
globalization, developing economic and trade cooperation is the internal needs
of China and Japan, which benefits the fundamental interests of the two sides.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed three principles in March on the
relations with Japan: taking history as a mirror and looking forward into the
future; Japan should adhere to the one- China principle; cooperation should be
strengthened to pursue common development.
Bo quoted Wen as saying that the friendly cooperation between China and Japan
has great potential, especially in economy and trade. He said that Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also said that China's economic growth is not a
threat, but rather an opportunity.
He said the two prime ministers' attitudes demonstrated the two governments'
will of improving economic and trade cooperation.
"But mutual-beneficial economic cooperation also needs the political
foundation of mutual respect," he said.
He said the Chinese people suffered greatly during Japan's invasion to China.
"This basic fact cannot be covered and changed. "
Bo said Chinese President Hu Jintao always emphasized that China should treat
neighbors kindly and take neighbors as partners.
"As long as Japan views history correctly and properly handles the problems
in bilateral relations, the economic and trade cooperation between China and
Japan will have a good future," he said.
Bo recalled former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who in 1995
expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology for the damage and sufferings
caused by the Japanese colonial rule and aggression to the Chinese and Asian
people. The then Japanese Prime Minister also said that Japan will modestly look
at this indisputable historic facts.
Bo said if Japanese politicians can treat history issues properly with
Murayama's attitude and be true to their words, the economic and trade
cooperation will definitely have broad space of development.
China's economic opening-up has greatly boosted China's economic growth and
this policy will remain 100 years without change, Bo said, quotng late Chinese
leader Deng Xiaoping.
He said China cherishes the current favorable situation and will continue to
seek common development with countries around the world. "Of course, the
aspiration for common development also covers the sincere cooperation with
Japan's business circle."
