China-Japan Leaders contacts could be resumed given political barrier removed, Tang said

A top Chinese official urged future Japanese leaders to make a "wise decision" and remove all political barrier to pave the way for a normal China-Japan relationship.

State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told visiting president of the Japanese News Agency Jiji Wakabayashi Seizo Friday that if the political barriers are completely removed, China-Japan ties could begin a new chapter and the leaders of the two countries would be able to resume normal contact.

He urged the future Japanese leader to make a "wise decision" to completely remove the political barrier to bilateral relations.

"Sino-Japanese relations stand at a historical crossroads and whether or not the two countries can follow the right direction is in the interest of both nations and the peace, stability and development of the region," Tang said.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe last week announced his candidacy to become Japan's next prime minister. The other candidates lagged far behind Abe.

Tang said that China has held a consistent, clear and firm stance on the Yasukuni Shrine visits, where Class-A criminals in World War II are honored.

It is a urgent task for the two governments to take the opportunity to remove the political obstacles and break the current deadlock, Tang said.

He added China has already made unremitting efforts in this regard, and will continue to do so. Tang also expressed his hope that Japan would do the same.

"Sino-Japanese relations are facing their most difficult period since the normalization of diplomatic ties," Tang said, citing Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's persistence in visiting the Yasukuni Shrine as the reason.

Over the last five years, visits between the leaders of the two countries have ground to a halt, political trust has been undermined and the problems have become more difficult to deal with. Regional cooperation has also been compromised.

"The longer the situation lasts, the greater the damage," Tang said.

"Bringing Sino-Japanese relations back on track is the common aspiration of both peoples, and the expectation of the international community," he noted.

Source: Xinhua