Japan urged to show sincertiy, wisdom on history issue
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-14 15:56 Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Liu Jianchao called here Thursday for Japan to show sincerity and
wisdom in handling the history issue.
Liu made the remark at a routine press conference when asked to comment on
the issue.
He said China has repeatedly stated its stance on Japanese leader's visit to
the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 convicted class-A war criminals from World
War II.
"Our stance is firm and clear," Liu said, stressing that the history issue is
a major issue of principle between the two countries, which constitutes the
political foundation for the bilateral relations and can't be avoided.
On March 31, Chinese president Hu Jintao told a group of Japanese visitors
who represented seven Sion-Japan friendship organizations that he is ready to
have meetings or dialogues with Japanese leaders as long as they make a
clear-cut decision of paying no more visit to the Yasukuni shrine.
Leaders of the two neighboring countries have halted exchanges of visits for
over four years, ever since Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi began
paying homage to the war shrine soon after he took office in
2001.
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