China confirms Wen to visit Japan |
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Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:23
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CEBU, Philippines (XFN-ASIA) - China's foreign ministry confirmed that Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Japan this spring, in the latest move to improve strained relations.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 'extended an invitation to him and Premier Wen accepted,' ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference.He said Wen would visit in the spring but gave no date.A senior Japanese official earlier quoted Wen as saying he plans to visit in April. The official said the Chinese premier, in a meeting with Abe on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit, also invited Abe to visit Beijing.Abe said he would consider the invitation after consulting his diplomatic staff, according to the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity after the talks.Abe has sought to repair ties with China since taking over as prime minister.Relations reached a low ebb over his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to a Tokyo war shrine seen by critics as a symbol of Japan's past aggression.China angered Japan last year by blocking its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.Abe travelled to Beijing and Seoul in early October, shortly after taking office, in a bid to repair ties between Tokyo and its neighbors.afp
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China, Japan, SKorea hold summit 