China and Japan agreed Thursday to jointly research history, a move that is
expected to reduce future disputes on historical issues.
The announcement was made after a meeting between Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso on the sidelines of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting.
especially issues concerning Japanese invasions of Asian countries including
China during World War II, have periodically blocked advancement of bilateral
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso(L) laughs during a
bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing(R) on the
sidelines of APEC at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi. China and
Japan pushed ahead with efforts to improve bilateral ties strained over
their wartime history, tasking experts to study the issue and publish
their findings by 2008. [AFP]
The joint research will be conducted according to the principles of the three
political documents signed by the two countries, including the China-Japan Joint
Statement, as well as with the spirit of "facing the future", according to the
Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The purpose is to "deepen the objective understanding of history and increase
The joint research will cover more than 2,000 years of bilateral exchanges,
modern history including the Japanese invasion of China and other Asian
countries, and the development of bilateral relations in the 60 years since the
end of World War II.
A total of 20 scholars, 10 from each side, will establish a special committee
to conduct the research, and there will be two groups in charge of ancient and
modern history respectively.
The Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and
Japan Institute of International Affairs will be responsible for the research,
and they will holds conferences in rotation. The first conference will be held
this year and scholars are scheduled to publish joint research results in 2008,
when the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the China-Japan
Peace and Friendship Treaty.
Bilateral relations soured after former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honours 14 Class A
convicted war criminals from World War II along with the country's war dead,
after he took office in 2001.
Some politicians refuse to admit the atrocities committed by Japanese troops
during World War II, which greatly hurts the feelings of Asian peoples.
During their meeting, the Chinese foreign minister said that new Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China last month has put bilateral ties on
the track of normal development and the two sides should treasure such results.
He hoped that both sides could make joint efforts to "deal with sensitive
issues between the two countries" and not let them interfere in the development
of bilateral ties.
Li said that the question of Taiwan must be handled appropriately.
Taro said that there is no change in the Japanese Government's policy on
Taiwan and will deal with the question according to the principles of the
bilateral political documents.
Li yesterday also met the foreign ministers of Canada and New Zealand.
Li and his Canadian counterpart Peter MacKay agreed in their meeting that the
two countries should treat bilateral relations from a "strategic perspective"
and strengthen consultation on regional and international affairs.
In another development, President Hu Jintao is planning to meet with Canadian
Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the sidelines of the forum.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu announced the news yesterday in Beijing
amid reports that China declined meetings with Canada because of Harper's strong
criticism of China's human rights record.
Jiang said China always advocates enhancing dialogue on the basis of mutual
respect and equality in a bid to enlarge common understanding and narrow
"However we are firmly against gossiping about and interfering in other
countries' internal affairs," Jiang said at a regular press conference.
Ministerial meeting concludes
Trade ministers, foreign ministers and representatives from the APEC member
economies wrapped up their two-day gathering yesterday, agreeing to continue the
support for WTO negotiations and facilitate trade in the region.
During the meeting, the delegates spent a lot of time discussing the need to
resume the stalled Doha Round of the WTO negotiations.
They endorsed the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan roadmap for
realization of the Bogor goals of free and open trade and investment in the
region, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem
told a press conference after the meeting.
A joint statement issued after the meeting said the delegates reaffirmed
their commitment to strengthen the multilateral trading system, and recommended
APEC Economic Leaders issue a stand-alone statement on the Doha Development
Agenda reaffirming APEC's resolve to resume the negotiation process without any