Japan's new Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka stressed Monday that the Japanese government will seriously take the Chinese side's stance on the issue of the history textbook, and will continue to adhere to the One-China principle, not supporting Taiwan's "independence".

Tanaka made the remarks in a phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.

She said that the Japanese-Chinese relation is among the important bilateral relations of Japan, and the Japan-China Joint Statement, which was signed by her father, Kakuei Tanaka, and Chinese leaders, has moralized diplomatic ties and laid a foundation for the relations between the two countries.

Both the new Japanese government and Tanaka herself value the relations between the two countries, and would like to make unremitting efforts for the stable development of Japanese-Chinese relations, she added.

On the history issue, Tanaka said that Japan has made solemn statements in this regard in the Japan-China Joint Statement and in the talks made by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on behalf of the Japanese government in 1995, adding that Japan will abide by the statements.

Tanaka noted that young people should learn from the disastrous history in the past, and the recent issue of the history textbook has harmed the Japanese-Chinese relations, for which she feels regret.

The Japanese side will seriously treat the Chinese side's stance and demands, taking corresponding measures to properly handle the issue, she added.

On the Taiwan issue, Tanaka said that the Japanese government will adhere to the One-China stance, not participate in any activity supporting "two Chinas", or "one China, one Taiwan", and will not support Taiwan's "independence".

On the issue of Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan, she said, Japan will deal with it seriously according to the above-mentioned principles.

Tang Jiaxuan said that the Chinese government and people value and are ready to develop the long-term and good-neighborly relations with Japan, but the current issues of the history textbook and Lee Teng-hui's Japan tour have harmed the Sino- Japanese relations.

He pointed out that the essence of the history textbook issue is whether Japan can have a correct understanding of and deal with its invasion in the history. He voiced the hope that Japan would take practical measures to seriously treat China's demands so as to earn the trust of the Asian people, and stick to peace and development on the basis of learning from the history.

Tang noted that the Taiwan issue has relation to the political foundation of the Sino-Japanese relations, and he urged Japan to honor its commitments and do something to safeguard the relations between the two countries.

(Xinhua 05/08/2001)