Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday that
Japan and China are closely-related and strengthening bilateral
political ties is beneficial to regional and global peace.
Abe said during a session of the House of Representatives Budget
Committee that Japan's relations with China and South Korea are
both closely related and inseparable.
Japan's economy is "inseparable" from these bilateral ties, and
efforts should be made to build "relations of trust" in economic
and other areas, he said.
He said frank exchanges of views, goals and ideals are the first
step in building the "relations of trust."
Abe, who took office on September 26, will pay an official visit
to China on October 8-9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao announced on Wednesday.
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When answering a question about Japan's responsibility on launching
the Asia-Pacific War, Abe said that "as a result of starting war,
we left many scars on the people of Asia. Including my grandfather
(former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi), the leaders had great
responsibility. Since politicians have to take responsibility for
any outcomes, that decision certainly was wrong."
(Xinhua News Agency October 6, 2006)