Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media in
Seoul after reports that North Korea had
conducted a nuclear test on Monday. From The Daily Yomiuri, by Tadashi Toriyama Yomiuri Shimbun, Staff Writer - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese leaders agreed Sunday the two countries would work together to stop North Korea from carrying out a nuclear weapons test announced by the reclusive country Tuesday.

Abe, in his first overseas trip since becoming prime minister last month, met separately with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The meeting with Hu marks the first Japan-China summit talks in 18 months and the first visit to China by a Japanese prime minister in five years.

During the meeting, Abe urged the Chinese leaders to cooperate with Japan to stop Pyongyang from carrying out the nuclear test. The Chinese side responded that Beijing would pressure Pyongyang to refrain from the test.

As to Pyongyang’s nuclear test plan, Abe told Hu, “It is a serious threat to peace and security in the international community and Japan will never tolerate it.”

The leaders from the two countries also agreed to improve their relations, which were soured by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visits to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and to aim to build “strategic” relations in which the two countries would work together to resolve international issues.

As to Yasukuni Shrine visits, Abe said visits were meant to pray for a permanent peace and not to glorify the Class-A war criminals enshrined there. He added he would not discuss whether he plans to visit the shrine. The Chinese leaders said Abe should try to remove the “political obstacle,” indirectly asking Abe not to visit the shrine.

A joint press statement issued after the meetings summarized contents of the meetings.

During the talks with the Chinese leaders, Abe suggested the two neighboring countries should share not only their own common interests, but also those of the region and international community, and must work together to build a “strategic” relationship based on this idea. The Chinese leaders agree with Abe’s proposal.

Abe also invited the two Chinese leaders to Japan, with both Hu and Wen accepting the offer and agreeing to resume reciprocal visits. In addition, the leaders agreed to hold meetings on the sideline of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in November and the East Asian summit forum in December.

Abe said China should properly assess Japan’s development as a pacifist country after the end of World War II. “I trust Japan will continue its peaceful development and I praise it highly,” Hu replied.

The leaders also agreed to initiate joint studies on history by experts from both countries.

Gist of joint press statement BEIJING (Kyodo)–The following is a gist of a joint statement released by Japan and China after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Sunday.

Japan and China:

– Agreed to improve bilateral relations.

– Expressed deep concern over North Korea’s nuclear test plan.

– Agreed to advance the process of the six-nation talks.

– Agreed their ties are one of their most important diplomatic relationships.

– Agreed to make constructive contributions to peace and stability in Asia and the world.

– Confirmed they will speed up talks on East China Sea-linked issues, reaffirming a general direction toward joint development.

– Agreed to enhance exchanges in sectors including politics, the economy, security and culture.

– Agreed to build mutual confidence in the security field.

– Agreed to launch a study on history research by experts from both countries by year-end.

– Confirmed they will promote regional cooperation in East Asia.

– Agreed to seek reform of the U.N. Security Council.

Japan invited Chinese leaders to Japan and Beijing has in principle accepted it.
(Oct. 9, 2006)