Call for success of Hu’s Japan tour

BEIJING—A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here Monday China and Japan should make joint efforts for President Hu Jintao’s coming visit to Japan.
Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when he met with Hidenao Nakagawa, former secretary-general of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said the coming visit of President Hu is of great significance to the development of China-Japan relations in the new century.
He said China and Japan are facing important opportunities at the moment, calling for both sides to seize the chances and jointly advance the sound growth of bilateral ties on the basis of peaceful coexistence, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. In response, Nakagawa said both Japanese government and people are looking forward to Hu’s visit. The improvement of bilateral ties not only accord with the interests of both peoples, but also exert great effects to regional and world peace and stability.
He said he would like to make more efforts for Japan-China friendship and cooperation. Nakagawa is here at the invitation of Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs. China has called on the United States and Japan to keep their word on the Taiwan issue. “China hopes the United States and Japan will carry out their promises of not supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ or Taiwan authority’s proposed ‘referendum on UN membership’”, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in a written interview with Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Yang made the remarks in response to a question on the influence of Taiwan issue on Sino-U.S. and Sino-Japanese relations. Yang told the Russian journalist that Taiwan issue is one that matters the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and a great concern of 1.3 billion Chinese people and tens of millions of overseas Chinese.
Taiwan issue has always been the most important and sensitive one in the relations between China and United States. Addressing the issue based on the one-China policy is pivotal to the healthy and stable development of mutual ties, he said.
The issue is also significant in China-Japan relations, Yang added. To handle the issue properly is a fundamental condition for the smooth development of China-Japan relations.
Yang said that the situation across the Taiwan Straits now is “highly complex and sensitive” and that Chen Shui-bian clings obstinately to secessionist activities, including the “referendum on UN membership”. This poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region, he said.
Yang said that the United States and Japan had already said many times they support the one-China policy and oppose “Taiwan independence” and the proposed “referendum on the UN membership”.
In a reply to the questions on linking issues like human rights to the Beijing Olympics, Yang said China welcomes constructive advices and criticism, but objects to intervention in its internal affairs and intervening the Beijing Olympics with political purposes.
“(The linkage) violates the common aspiration of the international community and the Olympic spirit”, Yang said, adding it would be unfair to China and unfair to the Olympics and all people who share their passions for sports, Yang said.
Yang said the upcoming Beijing Olympics is a world event and it is the common expectation of the people around the world to see the Beijing Olympics success.
Yang said that China hopes the international community to take a responsible attitude toward the event, and China believes the Beijing Olympics will be a successful event with the support and participation of various nations.

—Xinhua