Business organizations urge visits between leaders of Japan, China

A group of Japanese business organizations promoting economic links with China have urged top government leaders of Japan and China to visit each other at least once a year to strengthen bilateral relations.

In a written opinion, the Japan-China Economic Association expressed concern over the recent political difficulties between the two countries, which it said were triggered mainly by repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The association was set up in 1972 to bolster economic relations between the two Asian countries.

The association's move coincided with a recent request from Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of Japan's biggest business lobby, the Japan Business Federation, for Koizumi to refrain from visiting the Shinto shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are honored.

Asian countries, particularly China and South Korea, suffered from Japan's military aggression before and during World War II and have strongly protested Koizumi's visits to the notorious shrine.

The written opinion will be sent to the two governments shortly, according to the association.

The association also appealed for a joint study by a group of experts in the two countries to reach a common understanding about history between the two nations. It also called for concluding a bilateral agreement for promoting Japan's direct investments in China.

Source: Xinhua