DATE=8/31/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-JAPAN VISIT WRAP (L-O)
NUMBER=2-266015
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
//// RE-PRINTING WITH CORRECT CR-NUMBER. ///
INTRO: Recently strained China-Japan ties could be on
the road to recovery after the Japanese foreign
minister's four-day trip to Beijing. Correspondent
Leta Hong Fincher reports the main problem addressed
during the meetings were allegations of spying by
Chinese ships.
TEXT: Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono left
Beijing Thursday with assurances from Chinese Premier
Zhu Rongji that China has no hostile
intentions towards Japan.
Japan has repeatedly complained about recent Chinese
naval incursions near Japanese waters, saying that
there have been 17 cases of Chinese ships entering
what Japan considers its exclusive economic zone this
year.
In his most public speech, to the Central Party School
in Beijing Wednesday, Mr. Kono warned of what he
called rising distrust between Japan and China.
But Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji allayed many of Mr.
Kono's worries during their meeting Wednesday night.
China and Japan have agreed to set up a system to
notify each other in advance of naval research
activities.
In addition, a Japanese official says Premier Zhu
promised Mr. Kono that Japan is still a candidate for
a potential 15-billion dollar contract to build a
high-speed railway between Shanghai
and Beijing. Just a few weeks ago, China cancelled a
visit by the Japanese Transport Minister Hajime Morita
to promote Japan's bid for the train project,
reportedly because Mr. Morita had just visited a
controversial shrine to war dead reviving bitter
memories from World War Two. But Mr. Zhu promised to
reschedule Mr. Morita's visit. Mr. Zhu's assurances
will clear the way somewhat for his own visit to Japan
in October.
China's official media gave favorable coverage to the
four-day visit, emphasizing the need to strengthen
Sino-Japanese ties. However, in a sign that obstacles
still remain between the two countries, Thursday's
hard-line Liberation Army Daily accused Japan of a
growing militarism aimed primarily at China. The
article mentions Japanese plans to launch spy
satellites and a beefed up coastal defense force. Mr.
Kono has dismissed the allegations. (signed)
NEB/HK/LHF/JO
31-Aug-2000 10:13 AM EDT (31-Aug-2000 1413 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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