On Wednesday in Beijing, prior to his upcoming official visit to Japan, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was interviewed by a group of representatives from 16 Japanese news organizations including Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Kyodo News Agency and NHK. Following is the full text of that interview:

Wen: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! I am pleased to accept this interview before my visit to Japan. I feel strongly that my trip has a real mission. Sino-Japanese relations are at a critical stage and both countries should make an effort to push forward ties. I hope journalists from both countries will work towards that end. Now I am ready to answer your questions.

Journalist: Thank you very much for giving Japanese journalists the opportunity to interview you. Please tell us your impressions of Japan and your expectations for this trip. What message do you want to send to Japanese leaders and people on your visit?

Wen: I expect my visit to be a success and a real "ice-melting" trip. I expect to reach a consensus with Japanese leaders on major issues affecting the two countries, thereby pushing ties forward. I expect more contact with the Japanese people and to learn more about Japan, and also to give Japanese people the opportunity to learn more about China, which will help strengthen trust and friendship.

I visited Japan 15 years ago when the cherry trees were blossoming. I saw personally the prosperity and development of Japan, and witnessed Japanese people's diligence, wisdom and innovation. More understanding of Japan came from history. The two countries cherish a 2000-year history of friendly exchanges, a relationship that is very rare, particularly considering the large scale, wide range and deep influence of the friendship. However, in modern times, both countries experienced a half-century of misery, when Japanese militarists launched a war of aggression against China, which plunged the Chinese people into a period of profound suffering and hurt the Japanese people bitterly. By using history as a mirror we can draw lessons from the past, and by facing the future we can make new roads into a Sino-Japanese friendship.

During my visit I want to convey a message to the Japanese leaders and people: developing Sino-Japanese friendly ties is in line with historical trends as well as people's wishes; the Chinese people hope to develop and improve bilateral ties hand in hand with the Japanese people.

Journalist: You once said that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China was an "ice-breaking" trip, and now you say yours be an "ice-melting" trip. In what way do you think Sino-Japanese relations can develop steadily and stably? What will be the subject of the joint document? Will China invite Prime Minister Abe to visit again? Will President Hu Jintao visit Japan this year?

Wen: The basis of the development of sustainable, stable Sino-Japanese relations is the three political documents signed by the two counties. These have laid the foundation for bilateral ties, summed up past relations from a political, legal and factual perspective and paved the way for the future. As long as the principles and spirit of the three political documents are observed, China and Japan will develop strong ties.

During my visit, the two nations will sign a joint document which will spell out the two countries' aspirations for building a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship, and the meaning and major tasks of this relationship. This is a significant event, ushering in a new era of China-Japan relations. This relationship should be based on strengthening trust and honoring commitments; seeking common ground and respecting differences; seeking mutual benefit and common development; facing the future and improving exchanges; consulting closely and bracing for challenges. We appreciated the fact that Mr. Abe chose China as his first overseas destination when he took office as prime minister last September. His last visit was too short to allow him to visit other parts of China. During my tour, I will invite him to visit China again this year, so that he can see other places and learn more about China. Japanese leaders have extended several invitations to President Hu, and I believe he will visit Japan at a convenient time for both nations.

Journalist: This year is historically sensitive as it marks the 70th anniversary of the Lugouqiao Incident. If shrine visits and other historical issues become hot topics again, what effect will that have on Sino-Japanese relations? How will the Chinese government respond if Prime Minister Abe visits the Yasukuni Shrine?

Wen: Visits to the shrine by individual Japanese leaders over the last few years have deeply hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and seriously undermined China-Japan ties. This is what we don't want to see and I hope this will never happen again. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties as well as the 70th anniversary of the Lugouqiao Incident, so there are both opportunities and challenges. The two countries should consider their relations from a long-term and strategic perspective. We hope Japan will no longer do things that hurt the Chinese people's feelings.

Through the efforts of both governments, Prime Minister Abe was able to visit China last year, and the two parties reached a consensus on overcoming political barriers that have damaged bilateral ties. We hope Prime Minister Abe will consider the overall situation, cherish the hard-won opportunity for better China-Japan ties, keep his promise and continue to work for better relations.

Journalist: How do you think the problem of the East China Sea gas field can be resolved? Is China considering formulating a new plan regarding joint development? The solution obviously lies in a political resolution; how should this be resolved?

Wen: The East China Sea is a major issue involving the interests of both countries, and is therefore closely watched. To solve this problem, we propose putting aside our disputes and developing the area together. We hope the two nations will consult further to reach an acceptable solution. Generally, consultation is constructive and we are happy about that. In everything, the beginning is always the most difficult stage. We believe that as long as the two countries make an effort to increase consultation, we will be able to make substantial progress towards a peaceful solution, so that the East China Sea can be "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation".

Journalist: When and in what form will the Japan-China Ministerial Economic Meeting be held? In what areas does China hope to improve economic exchanges with Japan?

Wen: Economic issues will be very important topics during my visit. Dialogue is a key mechanism for building up strategic economic relations between China and Japan, and it complements various other cooperative mechanisms that have already been established. During my visit to Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and I will co-chair a meeting to start up a high-level economic dialogue mechanism, determine who will be responsible for the mechanism, and decide on a time, venue and agenda for the first meeting.

As close neighbors separated only by a narrow strip of water, China and Japan share geographical advantages and are economically complementary, so there is great potential for economic and trade relations. In 1996, China-Japan trade was valued at US$207.4 billion, nearly 200 times what it was in 1972 (US$1.1 billion) when the two countries normalized their relations. Japan has now invested US$58 billion in more than 30,000 different projects in China. The number of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries reached five million in 2006. Strengthening China-Japan economic and trade cooperation is in the interests of both countries.

China and Japan should identify targets, approaches and key orientations for bilateral economic and trade cooperation through dialogue. Strengthening bilateral cooperation is particularly important considering the challenges of globalization. In particular, the two countries should increase collaboration in the fields of energy conservation, environmental protection, hi-tech, small and medium-sized enterprises, finance and information.

China will adopt an open attitude to economic and trade cooperation with Japan as long as such cooperation is based on mutual benefit and equality. China and Japan should also make full use of multilateral mechanisms such as the World Trade Organization, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, 10+3 (10 ASEAN countries plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) and the East Asia Summit, to increase consultation and cooperation on addressing global energy and climate change challenges as well as establishing a just and reasonable multilateral trade system.

Journalist: No progress was made at the sixth round of six-party talks. What do you think about the direction of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue? When will the ministerial meeting of the six parties be held? Will China be involved in helping resolve the issue of the DPRK's abduction of Japanese nationals?

Wen: During the sixth round of six-party talks, the parties discussed concrete measures and the next-steps towards implementing the "Sept. 19" document, as well as increasing understanding between all parties. All parties reiterated that they would fulfill the promises they have made in the joint document. The issue concerns the security and stability of all northeast Asia. The aim of the six-party talks is to realize denuclearization, normalize relations between countries and safeguard lasting peace in northeast Asia. A movement towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is underway, and the six-party talks process will continue.

China's position in resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is consistent and clear. China insists on a peaceful approach, negotiation, dialogue and the promotion of a consensus to settle the issue. China has always taken an active approach towards six-party talks and will continue to do so in the future. We will further strengthen contacts and cooperation with the other parties involved to promote the talks. The six-party talks have taken some time, but now finally we see a glimmer of hope. Provided all the parties make unremitting efforts to strengthen dialogue, contact and consultation, sooner or later solutions will emerge.

On the abduction issue, China understands and sympathizes with Japan's position on the issue and is willing to help resolve it. We note that Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have started negotiations to normalize relations, which will aid the settlement of the abduction issue.

Journalist: Regarding security and the military aspects, how can Japan and China build a relationship based on mutual trust through defense exchanges and a more "transparent" defense budget?

Wen: China is on the road to peaceful development �C the country's conditions, system and cultural traditions make any other option unthinkable. Our development will not have a negative impact on other countries, nor pose a threat to any country. China is still a developing country, and we will not seek hegemony. There is a long way to go before China becomes a developed country. Even if China were highly developed, it would never seek hegemony. With regard to China's defense expenditure, relative to the population China's defense spending is modest, far less than many developed and developing countries. The key point is that China's limited military power is used to safeguard the country's security and ensure unification.

Over the last two hundred years, China has been invaded a number of times, so the country knows quite well what disasters war can inflict on a country and its people. China's commitment to peaceful development and a national defense policy based on self-defense is absolutely sincere, and beyond doubt.

China and Japan have a great deal of influence both in northeast Asia and in the world. China is ready to increase military exchanges and boost defense dialogue with Japan, for that will help expand their understanding of China, avoid confrontation as well as safeguard peace and the development of the region and the world.

Journalist: On top of your busy work for the country, what do you do in your spare time? What hobbies do you have?

Wen: As the premier of a country with a population of 1.3 billion, you can imagine how busy I am. I don't have much spare time, so what time I do have is particularly precious. I cherish this little bit of time very much, and spend most of it reading and thinking. Some other time is reserved for writing letters to the people and friends. I have developed a habit of writing letters, and I write letters to workers, farmers, scientists, writers, artists and even teachers and students.

I'm lucky enough to have a happy family in which four generations live under the same roof. I especially adore my grandchildren, and perhaps I am happiest when I read magazines, tell stories and play table tennis with them. I liked sports when I was young, and I once played basketball and baseball. There is a university in Kyoto that I am visiting, and I hope I will have the opportunity to play baseball with the students there.

Lastly, please convey my greetings and best wishes to the Japanese people. I'm looking forward to my tour of Japan. Thank you.

Journalist: Thank you, Premier Wen. I hope your Japan visit is a success.

By People's Daily Online