Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a Japan-China
friendship organization paper that Japan would promote exchanges
with China in 2007 to build strategic bilateral ties for mutual
benefit.
Next year marks the 35th anniversary of normalization of the
Japan-China diplomatic relations, Abe said in a New Year address
published Saturday in the organ paper of the Japan-China Friendship
Association.
He noted that efforts would be made to boost the bilateral
relations to a new level through activities surrounding "the
cultural and sports exchange year."
"The destination of my first foreign visit as prime minister was
China," Abe said in the paper named "Japan and China". The
realization of the visit means that "both countries value the
relations and acknowledge the necessity of frank dialogue and
exchanges."
Abe also mentioned his later meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Hanoi, Vietnam, in which they
reached agreement in promoting exchanges. Such dialogues and
exchanges will be a great help for future relations, he said.
Since the normalization of the Japan-China diplomatic ties in
1972, the two neighbors have established unprecedented ties in
economic areas and personnel exchange, he said in the address.
Over 1,000 high school students from either country visited the
other in 2006. The exchange between the youths, who carry the
responsibilities for future, is very important for the development
of bilateral ties and he would endeavor to offer support.
(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2006)