Visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan Thursday met with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura. The two agreed on further improving bilateral ties.
The Sino-Japanese relations have been improved and developed through joint efforts since last year. Further promoting the ties benefits the basic interests of both peoples, as well as the peace and stability in the region and the world, Cao said.
Cao expressed the hope that the two sides can handle sensitive issues appropriately.
On the Taiwan issue, Cao said that it is a principal one involving China's core interests. He hoped that Japan continues sticking to the one-China policy and opposes any kinds of "Taiwan independence", with a view of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait and bilateral ties.
Cao stressed that China will stick to peaceful development and has been working to contribute to the construction of harmonious Asia and world. Japan made the decision to choose peaceful development after the war and has brought solid interests to the Japanese people, Cao said. The defense chief said that the two nations should enlarge cooperation to strategic level and enhance trust and collaboration, as to contribute to the peace and development of Asia and the world.
Machimura said that the top levels of the two sides have achieved frequent exchanges since October 2006. The Japanese side hopes to deepen understanding of the two peoples and will continue working on promoting political and military trust and strengthening cooperation, as well as to solidify and develop friendship with China.
The new top diplomat said that Japan fully recognizes the importance of the Taiwan issue. He noted that Japan will continue sticking to the position as stated in the Japan-China joint statement and would not support any kind of "Taiwan independence".
Cao is making the official good-will visit, the first for a Chinese defense minister since 1998, at the invitation of Japanese Defense Minister.
Source: Xinhua
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