Premier Wen Jiabao is likely to meet with Japanese
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the sidelines of high-level East
Asian meetings, scheduled for next week in Singapore, Assistant
Foreign Minister He Yafei said yesterday.
Diplomats from both sides are in "contact" to "arrange" the
meeting, He said at a press conference in Beijing. Wen will leave
for Singapore on Sunday on an official visit.
"It would be the first meeting between them (since Fukuda
assumed the prime minister's post)," He said. "I believe they will
exchange views on China-Japan relations and discuss how to enrich
the strategic ties of mutual benefit and other issues of common
concern."
If realized, the meeting will play a significant role in
promoting bilateral ties, he said.
The two countries failed to resolve a dispute over gas
exploration rights in the East China Sea at a new round of talks in
Tokyo yesterday, but they agreed that there was a need to increase
political efforts.
Wen's visit to Singapore will be the first by a Chinese premier
in eight years. He will attend the annual summit of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners.
The high-level East Asian meetings include the 11th ASEAN-China
Summit, the 11th ASEAN 10+3 (ASEAN plus China, Japan and South
Korea) Summit and the third East Asia Summit. Wen will attend the
eighth Chinese, Japanese and South Korean Leaders' Meeting,
too.
Wen is attending the meetings to increase reciprocal
understanding and mutual political trust between China and its
neighboring countries, strengthen partnership in East Asia and
promote "harmonious, common and sustainable development" among East
Asian nations, He told reporters.
The 10+3 summit is expected to produce a joint statement on East
Asia cooperation and a specific cooperation plan between ASEAN and
China, Japan and South Korea for the next decade, He said. It will
push for the cooperative mechanism to continue playing its role of
promoting peace, stability and development in the region.
At the East Asia Summit, Wen will explain China's position on
climate change and the measures it has taken and will take to deal
with global warming, He said.
Responding to a question on whether the Myanmar issue would be
discussed at the meetings, He said the issue won't be the focus of
any discussion because the agenda will comprise regional
cooperation, energy and the environment.
The Myanmar situation is going in the right direction, He said.
"We hope related parties continue to intensify dialogue to promote
national reconciliation and seek democracy and economic
development."
(China Daily November 15, 2007)
