Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Saturday met with his Japanese,
Philippine and Brunei counterparts in the central Philippine city
of Cebu, saying China will promote cooperation with the three
countries.
While meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Aso Taro, Li said
there emerges a good situation of development in Sino-Japanese
relations as a result of the efforts made by both countries.
Li said that Chinese and Japanese leaders have reached a
consensus on the direction of development of bilateral relations,
effectively promoting the practical and mutually beneficial
cooperation in various fields between the two sides.
China is willing to join hands with Japan in promoting the
Sino-Japanese relations to grow in a healthy, stable manner, and
work hard to reach the goal of "peaceful coexistence, friendship
from generation to generation, cooperation to mutual benefit, and
common development," Li added.
Li told Aso that the historical issue and the Taiwan issue
concern the foundation of Sino-Japanese relations. He said China
hopes Japan will properly deal with the relevant issues by adhering
to the principles laid down by the three political documents
including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.
Aso said that Japan welcomes the momentum of improvement rising
in the Japan-China relations, and hopes the two sides will join
hands in building strategic relationship of mutual benefit by
increasing high-level exchanges and deepening cooperation in such
areas as economics, trade, human resources, culture and
environmental protection.
With regard to the historical issue and the Taiwan issue, Aso
said that Japan will stick to the principles expounded by the three
political documents. This position will remain unchanged, he
added.
The two ministers also exchanged views on international and
regional issues of common concern.
During the meeting between Li and Philippine Foreign Secretary
Alberto Romulo, the two highly appreciated Sino-Philippine
relations, saying that both sides are willing to strengthen
cooperation in various areas.
The two ministers also promised to join efforts to promote
cooperation between China and ASEAN, and between ASEAN on the one
side and China, Japan and South Korea on the other.
On another occasion, Li met with Lim Jock Seng, Foreign Minister
II of Brunei Darussalam, to discuss the strengthening of friendly
relations and cooperation between the two countries.
(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2006)
