Ｆｏｒｍｅｒ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ Ｍｉｎｉｓｔｅｒｓ Ｍａｓａｊｕｒｏ Ｓｈｉｏｋａｗａ ａｎｄ Ｋｉｙｏｓｈｉ Ｍｉｚｕｎｏ Ｖｉｓｉｔ Ｃｈｉｎａ

Ｐａｎ　Ｌｉｎ

At the invitation of the CPAFFC, Japans former Minister of Finance Masajuro Shiokawa and former Minister of Construction Kiyoshi Mizuno visited Beijing and Tianjin from June 24 to 27. During their stay in Beijing, Tang Jiaxuan, former state councillor, and Song Jian, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), met with them on separate occasions.

In his meeting with them, Tang Jiaxuan appreciated the long-term support and care of the cause of China-Japan friendship given by the two senior statesmen of the Japanese political circles and their efforts and precious contributions to the good neighbourly relations and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields.

On Sino-Japanese relations, Tang said, President Hu Jintaos successful visit to Japan in May has borne rich fruits. Particularly the two sides issued the China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit, the fourth important political document between the two countries. Now Sino-Japanese relationship is at a new historical starting point and facing a new opportunity for further development.

Tang continued, the year 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Sino- Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty and is also the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year. It is an important year for Sino-Japanese relationship which is developing and forging ahead into the future. People-to-people exchanges play an important role in consolidating state-to-state relations. Looking into the future, the base of China-Japan friendship lies in the people, particularly the youth of the two countries. Mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the youth are conducive to a long-term steady development of Sino-Japanese relations. We should educate and influence the youth and help them understand the importance of China-Japan friendship.

As to the East China Sea issue, Tang pointed out, during his visit to Japan 30 years ago, when answering questions raised by reporters about the development of Diaoyu Island and its surrounding waters, Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward the strategic thinking of “putting aside disputes and making joint exploitation”. Today 30 years later, through the concerted efforts, the two countries have made an important step and reached the principled consensus on the issue of East China Sea, fully showing progress of the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between the two countries. It is not only beneficial to China and Japan, but also to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world. This act is universally welcomed by the international community and won positive public comments in the world.

Masajuro Shiokawa first passed on Prime Minister Yasuo Fukudas autographed letter to Premier Wen Jiabao expressing his sincere sympathy and solicitude for the victims of Wenchuan earthquake in Chinas Sichuan province. He said, through the media he saw the Chinese government take prompt effective measures to carry out relief work in the wake of the earthquake and was deeply moved. The Japanese government and people are willing to do everything they can to render aid to China, and believe that under the leadership of the Chinese government, the people in the disaster-hit areas will surely overcome difficulties and rebuild their homeland soon.

Shiokawa said, he is glad to see that Japan-China relations are gaining momentum of development. The principled consensus reached by the two countries on the East China Sea issue reflects the spirit of strategic bilateral relationship of mutual benefit. He expressed his willingness to continue to work for the development of long-term steady and healthy relations between the two countries.

Kiyoshi Mizuno said, through the concerted efforts, Japan and China reached the principled consensus on the joint development of the East China Sea. He believed this would become a symbol of Japan-China friendship, thus further promoting the development of bilateral relations.

During their stay in Beijing, Masajuro Shiokawa and Kiyoshi Mizuno donated money to the Sichuan earthquake-hit areas. Kiyoshi Mizuno, on behalf of the Hanazawagakuen Meisei Senior Middle School of Chiba Prefecture, donated money and wished the disaster-hit areas to start reconstruction soon. During their visit in Tianjin, Huang Xingguo, mayor of Tianjin, briefed them about the citys latest economic and social development and hoped that the two former ministers would actively publicize Tianjin and make new contributions to bilateral friendly cooperation and exchanges. The delegation visited the Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.