Chinese Amb. Wang calls for preparations for Japan-China FTA
Friday July 8, 2005
Chinese Amb. Wang calls for preparations for Japan-China FTA
(Kyodo) — Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi called on the Japanese business community Friday to launch preparations for negotiations on a Japan-China free trade agreement.
"Japan and China should start a private-sector study on a bilateral FTA," Wang said in an address to a seminar the Japan Productivity Center for Socio-Economic Development hosted in this central Japan summer resort.
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi called for early bilateral FTA negotiations when she visited Japan in May.
The ambassador urged the two countries to deepen their economic ties in order to improve overall relations.
"Japan and China should urgently break the deadlock" that has gripped bilateral relations over the history issue, he said.
Wang asked Japan to be prudent in dealing with the history issue. "China expects Japan to make decisions on its own and take appropriate steps."
In this respect, he advised Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to refrain from visiting Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine dedicated to some war criminals as well as the war dead.
Japan has reflected on and apologized for its past invasion of China, Wang noted. "But some people’s actions and remarks have run counter to such reflection."
