Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said here Tuesday before
his upcoming visit to China that China's economic development
offers a good opportunity to Japan as well as to the rest of the
world.
During an interview with Xinhua and other Chinese media at the
prime minister's office in Tokyo, Fukuda said that China's economic
development is important to Japan's economic growth.
"Bilateral ties have become increasingly complementary, and one
cannot do without the other," he said.
China is Japan's largest trading partner while Japan is the
largest investor in China, Fukuda said, adding that further
promotion of economic cooperation and exchange is important to the
healthy growth of both countries' economies as well as the
stability and development of Asia and the world.
Commenting on the peaceful development of China, Fukuda said
that China's development offers a good opportunity to Japan and the
rest of the world. The healthy growth of Japan-China relations is
of great significance to the two nations and the two peoples as
well as Asia and the world. With such consensus, Japan is willing
to develop future-oriented ties with China based on mutual
understanding and trust, he said.
Japan is ready to promote dialogue and exchange with China in
all areas and at all levels with emphasis on exchange between the
young people who shoulder the countries' future, Fukuda said.
Fukuda is scheduled to begin a four-day official visit to China
on Thursday. He will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen
Jiabao, meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu
Bangguo.
Fukuda will deliver a speech at the prestigious Peking
University, visit a primary school in Beijing, visit Tianjin, a
city neighboring Beijing, and Qufu, in Shandong Province, the
hometown of Confucius.
(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2007)
