Premier: Japan must tackle weapons issue ( 2003-10-08 08:45) (China Daily)
BALI: During his separate meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi yesterday, Premier Wen Jiabao urged the Japanese Government to deal
"appropriately" with the issue of chemical weapons left by the Japanese army at
the end of their invasion of China
Both Wen and Koizumi are in the Indonesian resort of Bali to attend a meeting
involving their two countries, ROK and the 10 members of the ASEAN.
Wen emphasized that the key issue for the smooth development of Sino-Japanese
relations is to understand and deal with history correctly.
According to an investigation carried out by Chinese researchers, invading
Japanese forces left about 2 million chemical bombs and 100 tons of poison in
China.
In the latest case, abandoned chemical weapons killed one person and made 42
others ill in August in the city of Qiqihar in Northeast China's Heilongjiang
Province.
Koizumi said the Japanese Government will adopt "sincere attitudes" and deal
appropriately with the issue of the abandoned chemical weapons, according to the
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
Sino-Japanese bilateral relations have been consolidated and further
developed this year as the two sides have hosted a series of activities to
commemorate the 25th anniversary of their Treaty of Peace and Friendship, said
Koizumi.
He added that Japan will continue to develop friendly and co-operative
relations with China in all fields.
Yesterday, Wen also held separate meetings with ROK President Roh Moo-hyun,
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
During his talk with Roh, Wen said that patience, wisdom and time are all
needed to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
Wen emphasized a peaceful solution through negotiations is the only correct
choice and this can never change, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman.
Wen said it is not long since Beijing and Seoul announced the establishment
of a comprehensive co-operative partnership between them. This is of great
significance for strengthening bilateral friendly co-operation, he said.
Roh said his government and people thank China for its positive contribution
to seeking a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue facing the Korean
Peninsula.
